Malaysia: Stressing need for improved smallholder performance, palm oil expert suggests public-private partnership

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): While smallholder farmers make up 40% of the global palm oil output, they only account for 8.8% of certified sustainable palm oil production (CSPO). Solidaridad Network Asia Senior Adviser Teoh Cheng Hai, who pointed this out today, said independent smallholders in particular have been underperforming in terms of productivity and income. At one level, certification by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) presents challenges for the smallholders in terms of legality, best management practices and traceability. On another level, fast-moving consumer good companies through the support of the CSPO credits have limited on-ground investments in operation sustainability, when it comes to CSPO. “[Therefore greater] ‘boots on the ground’ support is required to transform the smallholder sector,” Teoh said during a panel discussion on sustainability at the Palm Oil Trade Fair and Seminar 2021 organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC). He said one way ...