Independent Smallholders:
Training for Trainers - Smallholders Hub

Musim Mas, the top-ranked Swiss university Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zurich (ETH Zurich), the University of Cambridge and Indonesia’s Institut Pertanian Bogor, collaborate to investigate the conditions under which supply chain sustainability initiatives can lead to reduced deforestation in the palm oil sector in Indonesia while safeguarding producers’ inclusion. In particular, the joint research will measure how Musim Mas’ Smallholders Programs, such as the Smallholders Hubs, can contribute to such sustainability goals.

Together with ETH Zurich, Musim Mas will collaborate to produce longitudinal research on oil palm smallholders and measure the impact of its work on smallholders. Starting in December 2021 in Sumatra, Indonesia, the study will be one of the first in the industry to see what it takes to balance environmental and economic considerations for supply chain initiatives to work.

Musim Mas and General Mills launched a joint program to build robust and sustainable extension services for the oil palm farmers in Aceh Singkil, Indonesia. The initiative is part of an overall strategy to reduce deforestation by improving livelihoods. Targeted at independent smallholders from villages neighboring the Leuser Ecosystem, the two parties will collaborate to integrate smallholder growers into the sustainable palm oil supply chain and reduce deforestation.

The program is part of Musim Mas’ vision to establish Smallholders Hubs that serves as a pre-competitive platform where companies can pool resources and share their expertise to train farmers. The primary objective is to develop sustainable extension services, benefiting the communities and the local government.

AAK, Nestlé, and Musim Mas partner to address deforestation outside of plantation concession areas in Aceh, Indonesia.

AAK and Nestlé have pledged to fund the first two years of the five-year program, reaching out to approximately 1,000 oil palm independent smallholders within two years and enrolling them in Musim Mas’ Smallholders Program supported by a Smallholders Hub. The Smallholders Hub will provide advanced training to village extension officers on good agricultural practices and NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation). The officers will then train and upskill oil palm smallholders in their assigned areas. Musim Mas will be training 40 officers. This will be Musim Mas’ third Smallholders Hub in Aceh province, in line with their Aceh strategy.