KATINGAN DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO OIL PALM SMALLHOLDER COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT AND CONSERVATION: FGD REGIONAL ACTION PLAN SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL
The President of the Republic of Indonesia has signed Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 6 of 2019 concerning the National Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil Plantations (NAP SPO) 2019-2024. The Presidential Instruction mandates 14 relevant ministries/agencies and local governments in 26 palm oil producing provinces and districts to implement activity programs in realizing sustainable palm oil in Indonesia.
The Action Plan does not stop at the national level, but has been downgraded to several regions with the establishment of 13 Regional Action Plans for Sustainable Palm Oil (RAD KSB) so far. The Provincial Government of Central Kalimantan has shown its commitment to carry out the mandate of the NAP SPO by preparing the RAD KSB of Central Kalimantan Province which has been stipulated through Governor Regulation No. 53 of 2020. The latest effort being undertaken in Central Kalimantan is the development of the RAD KSB Katingan District supported by WWF Indonesia and Javlec.
Through 2 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) that have been conducted previously, several regional action plans have been formulated by Katingan District to further elaborate the RAD KSB of Central Kalimantan Province at the district level. Particular attention was given to the suitability of programs/activities with institutional capacity and district budget. Regional-specific issues such as fire prevention and control, spatial plan adjustment, and household cooking oil waste treatment were also discussed.
Thursday, September 7, 2023, WWF-Indonesia supported the FGD on the Final Draft of RAD KSB of Katingan Regency with the government of Katingan Regency at the Bappedalitbang Hall in Kasongan. The FGD focused on finalizing the preparation of the Regional Action Plan and the preparation of the RAD activity matrix and approving the PERBUP RAD Kab. Katingan.
The RAD KSB FGD activity was facilitated by Mr. Markano as the Head of Plantation Division and Mr. Abdi as the representative of JAVLEC. The FGD was chaired by Mr. Mozard as the Head of Katingan District Food Security and Agriculture Office. Mr. Mozard appreciated the NGOs, especially WWF and Javlec for initiating and facilitating this activity in order to develop this RAD KSB and hopes to continue to work together in the long term in the implementation of this action plan.
Then continued with a discussion session on this RAD KSB which was moderated by Mr. Abdi as a representative of JAVLEC starting with the finalization and improvement of the composition of the PERBUP, narrative attachment and RAD KSB activity matrix of Katingan Regency. WWF-Indonesia also provided recommendations to adjust the targets of each component with the Government Work Plan (RKP) of each existing Local Government Work Unit (SKPD) so that the outcomes are clear. This discussion agreed on several important components in the design of the Katingan District Sustainable Palm Oil Regional Action Plan activity matrix. The following are some of the components agreed to be the Katingan District Regional Action Plan;
a. Data strengthening, coordination and infrastructure strengthening: data collection of plantation information, improving infrastructure that supports sustainable palm oil development etc.
b. Increased capacity and capability of smallholders: increase the number of smallholders who apply GAP (Good Agriculture Practice), increase funding and assistance for oil palm replanting for smallholders etc.
c. Environmental management and monitoring: improve the protection and management of the environment that is High Conservation Value Area (KBKT), carry out prevention and management of natural disasters and support commitments to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, etc.
d. Plantation governance and dispute management: facilitating the acceleration of the legalization status of oil palm plantation land indicated in forest areas or peatlands, handling disputes over oil palm plantation land and employment as well as environmental impacts and social responsibility to surrounding communities, etc.
e. Acceleration of ISPO certification implementation and market access for palm oil products: increasing the understanding of ISPO to stakeholders, accelerating the implementation of ISPO certification for smallholders through guidance to smallholders and the development of government and company partnership models, etc.
This activity was closed by the Head of Service by giving some hopes for RAD KSB Kab. Katingan in the context of planning land use activities, preventing natural disasters, ISPO certification, data management and so on to become an output that benefits the surrounding community because 60% of Katingan people are engaged in agriculture in the sense that if we support from RAD KSB it means we support the economy of the Katingan community.