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“Smile even if your burdens are heavy”: Smallholder challenges and the Sabah sustainable palm oil initiative

Author

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  • Tham Mun Hou
  • Pramila Tamunaidu
  • Rory Padfield
  • Nurhamieza Md Huzir

Abstract

Sabah, Malaysia's biggest palm oil‐producing state, has made Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification mandatory under Sabah's Jurisdictional Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (JCSPO) initiative. Few studies have examined the independent native smallholders' challenges in adopting the JCSPO initiative. To address this knowledge gap, we engaged with oil palm smallholders via various qualitative methodological approaches over a 14 month period. We identified a range of challenges currently faced by the smallholder; these include RSPO compliance, land tenure issue, low financial and knowledge capacities, increasing food insecurity, and unstable market price of certified crude palm oil. In our article, we argue that the statewide certification policy is consolidating the inequalities in resource access and capacity for growth amongst smallholder groups in different districts. Fair resource allocation to different geographical areas is needed to provide new empowerment mechanisms and remedies for marginalized groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Tham Mun Hou & Pramila Tamunaidu & Rory Padfield & Nurhamieza Md Huzir, 2024. "“Smile even if your burdens are heavy”: Smallholder challenges and the Sabah sustainable palm oil initiative," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(5), pages 5488-5498, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:32:y:2024:i:5:p:5488-5498
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.2973
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Herwina Rosnan & Siti Qausar Mohd Shuraddin & Norol Hamiza Zamzuri, 2025. "Small Farms, Big Impact: The Challenging Role of Smallholder Farmers in Malaysia’s Agro-Economy," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(15), pages 799-812, June.

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