Baseline study for implementation of best management practices (BMPs) by oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) smallholders in the village of Ramin, Jambi, Indonesia

Abstract
Indonesia has been the world’s largest producer of palm oil since 2008. In Indonesia oil
palm development is strongly linked to economic prosperity for an increasing number
of people, alongside demand for additional and limited (non) farmland. The increased
adoption of oil palm cultivation by smallholders and their systematically lower yields
compared to governmental and private plantations offers an enormous challenge to
understand how smallholder yields could be improved, and how unlimited expansion in
forest areas can be avoided. In order to improve productivity and secure income, best
management practices (BMPs) need to be matched to the objectives of these
smallholders. To analyse the potential for improving smallholder yields in Indonesia,
Wageningen University and SNV Indonesia have started a pilot project in 2014, for
which farmers in two research sites in Indonesia were selected to have experimental
demonstration plots in their field for several years. On these plots, BMPs are
implemented and their effect on oil palm growth, development and yields are closely
monitored. For one of these research sites a baseline study was done. In this baseline
study two groups of farmers and one group of traders were interviewed. Firstly, this
baseline study showed us that the farmers with the demonstration plots in their field
are not a good representation for the farmers in the village. Secondly, smallholders
changed to oil palm, due to its profitability and steady income. Oil palm generated new
livelihood strategies. Due to the introduction of oil palm, there is a higher social
differentiation, while the average standard of living increased. Thirdly, BMPs are very
likely to be adopted, while management practices are copied from other farmers,
neighbours and family members. To optimize management practices and make them
more efficient, labour should be better divided: skilled labour should be done by people
from outside the household, while less skilled labour should be done by the household
members. Furthermore, farmers with oil palms on peat soils have lower yields than
farmers with oil palm on mineral soils. Giving the right training, more knowledge and
the right planting material could increase yields and income. To be able to execute the
best management practices, infrastructure needs to be improved. And finally, the
current market structure in the village gives social and economic support but traders
should be engaged more in the project, because they can facilitate the right fertilisers
and also the right harvesting support.