Sintang - A number of parties consider that the oil palm plantation sector in Sintang Regency is still fairly sexy in the eyes of tenant farmers. However, this condition is inversely proportional to the database management of independent oil palm farmers, which is not yet fully organized.

As a result, the sources of knowledge that farmers have are limited. Starting from good and responsible cultivation practices, labor, access to capital and markets, management systems, to knowledge of sustainability issues.

Veronica Ancili, Head of Sintang's Agriculture and Plantation Agency, said that there are many institutions that have provided assistance and have data on independent oil palm farmers. "But that data is still the consumption of each institution," she said in a focused discussion with the theme Building SOPs for Database Management Systems for Independent Oil Palm Farmers in Sintang District, Thursday (3/8/2017).

According to him, the data can actually be voiced to competent parties to help these farmers. Especially in terms of allocating programs and funding from the data-based government.

The survey results of Fasda Sawit Lestari Sintang in 2014 found that the total area of independent oil palm plantations reached 2,204 hectares. The total area is spread across the sub-districts of Sintang, Kelam Permai, Sungai Tebelian, Binjai Hulu, Kayan Hilir and Hulu, Sepauk, and Tempunak. The total area is owned by 449 farmers.

Furthermore, WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program in 2017 also launched the results of SPOT 6 image interpretation in 13 sub-districts in Sintang and detected independent oil palm plantations reaching an area of 1,133.61 hectares. The results of field measurements in 2014-2016, the recorded plantation area reached 295.76 hectares.

Chairman of Fasda Sawit Lestari Sintang Subarjo said that this FGD was one of the efforts to help independent oil palm farmers. "Hence, presenting a joint data system built by these parties is a necessity," Subarjo said.

According to him, the existence of a shared data system can provide the latest information on the development of independent oil palm farmers in Sintang. "This can be used as a kind of data warehouse. By itself, it will make it easier for parties to help various problems faced by independent oil palm farmers," he said.

Meanwhile, Market Transformation Initiative Coordinator of WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program Muhammad Munawir said that the FGD was also to build an agreement and common perception regarding data on independent oil palm farmers in Sintang. "This is what we will pour into a standard operating procedure for database management that is mutually agreed upon," he explained.

Munawir hopes that through this activity, a typology of data on independent oil palm farmers in Sintang District will be identified. In addition, there is an agreement to share data from each party as well as agree on the SOP for the independent oil palm smallholder database.

Contact Person:
Lia Syafitri (Communication Coordinator of WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program)
PHONE: +62 812 6734 743 | Email: lsyafitri@wwf.id

For further information, please contact:
Muhammad Munawir (Market Transformation Initiative Coordinator)
WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program
Jl. Karna Sosial Gg. Wonoyoso II No. 3 - Pontianak
PHONE: +62 81257 28740 | Email: mmunawir@wwf.id