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The Capacity Building Training for Sustainable Commodity Management Based on Smallholder Agriculture for Like-Minded Countries (LMCs) has been successfully conducted in Bogor and Riau (22/6 – 2/7). This training is a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), and the Lembaga Dana Kerja Sama Pembangunan Indonesia (LDKPI).
Participants had the opportunity to visit palm oil plantations in Siak, Riau, managed by smallholder farmers. The plantation is committed to sustainable practices, with 80 farmers already ISPO certified. Additionally, the visited plantations prioritize local wisdom and forest conservation in their management practices, exemplified by the use of bio-pesticides and organic fertilizers. The visited plantations have also implemented traceability practices using the Polygon Mapping method.
The 36 participants also attended a dinner hosted by the Riau Provincial Government at Bale Serindit in Pekanbaru. The event featured the traditional welcoming dance Joget Sonde, distinctive Malay music, and local cuisine from the Riau Province.
Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Indonesia on Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Ambassador Adam M. Tugio representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the event, expressed hope that the participants could learn best practices from the palm oil plantations in Riau, particularly regarding sustainability and the contributions of smallholder farmers to the palm oil industry.
“It is hoped that this visit provides valuable lessons and benefits for the participants that they can take back to their respective countries,” he concluded.
Assistant III of the Riau Provincial Government Secretariat, Mrs. Elly Wardhani, in her remarks, emphasized that business operators and smallholder farmers have worked hard to meet the Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification and are committed to ensuring that all plantation commodities in Riau employ environmentally friendly and sustainable practices.
“It is hoped that in the future, we, as like-minded countries, can support each other in sustainable plantation practices based on smallholder farming,” she concluded.
Prior to the field visits, participants attended in-class sessions in Bogor covering topics such as barriers, challenges, and opportunities in the palm oil sector; lessons learned from the ISPO certification process and sustainability; and best practices in sustainable palm oil plantations. Participants also engaged in discussions on good and sustainable agricultural practices from each participating country.
Ditya Agung Nurdianto, Director of Trade, Industry, Commodities, and Intellectual Property at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, highlighted in his presentation that current trends in global trade and sustainability indicate that environmental protection regulations are impeding the trade flow of agricultural and food commodities.
“Indonesia consistently advocates for its sustainable palm oil commodities through diplomacy and norm-setting in various multilateral forums. Indonesia remains committed to sustainable farming practices,” he concluded.
This training is a collaboration between the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), and the Indonesia-Aid (LDKPI), demonstrating Indonesia’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The training, set to continue for the next five years, focuses on managing various plantation commodities by smallholder farmers with sustainable practices. Smallholder farmers directly contribute to achieving SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). It is also crucial to integrate smallholder farmers into the global value chain of plantation commodities through government policies, to improve their living standards and welfare, aligning with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). According to FAO data, approximately 600 million smallholder farmers worldwide supply one-third of global food.
The participants expressed that this training was highly beneficial and inspiring for seeking ideas and solutions related to sustainable agriculture. They emphasized the importance of this training in building a unified front for development efforts and strengthening cooperation among developing countries.
It is hoped that through this training, participants can return to their countries with ideas and knowledge that can be implemented regarding sustainable plantation practices. Furthermore, this training aims to enhance cooperation and collaboration between Indonesia and participating countries.
Source: kemlu.go.id
