KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 (Bernama) — Over 400 smallholder farmers have achieved the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Independent Smallholder Certification under the P&G Smallholders Programme, according to P&G’s Centre of Sustainable Small-owners Impact Report 2024. 

In a statement today, Asia School of Business said another 400 independent smallholders are anticipated to be certified by end-2025.

The P&G Smallholders Programme is a collaboration between Asia School of Business, P&G, and Temasek Foundation, which aims to promote sustainable and good agricultural practices, as well as facilitate the production of certified sustainable palm oil from among independent smallholders in the districts of Pontian and Batu Pahat in Johor. 

The report also highlighted that 306 certified smallholders have received a total of US$42,630.00 (over RM200,000) in premium in 2021-2023 for their certified palm produce, increasing their livelihoods.

“Implementing good agricultural practices promotes better waste and chemical management among smallholder farmers, including using and applying fertilisers. 

“The Centre of Sustainable Small-owners has also facilitated the establishment of Pertubuhan Tani Niaga Lestari Negeri Johor, which saw membership rise to over 700 smallholders,” the statement said.

The programme has also developed a simplified curriculum on good agricultural practices with the Centre of Sustainable Small-owners having trained 1,972 farmers on agricultural and management practices since July 2022.

Malaysia is the second largest palm oil producer globally with over 275,000 smallholders, who collectively account for about 17 per cent of the country’s total oil palm planted area.  

Originally published by Bernama