A group of smallholder farmers from Tegal Mulyo village, South Sumatra, made history when it entered Indonesia’s national book of records for the second time in a row last year.
The cooperative, KUD Barokah Jaya, was awarded for producing the heaviest fresh fruit bunch of oil palm fruit, a year after it set the record for highest productivity in the country.
Head of the cooperative, Suparji, who goes by one name as is common in Indonesia, said the farmers were able to break new ground in yield and efficiency by partnering with agribusiness Cargill Tropical Palm, which owns palm oil plantations in several regencies of South Sumatra.
Slightly northwest of Tegal Mulyo, head of cooperative KUD Karya Makmur, Suharyanto continues to work with farmers to bring agriculture practices up to international standards on sustainability.
According to him, this has improved the living standards of locals. “Before, we didn’t have anything here, no permanent home or a car. Today, we own homes, we have cars and own other businesses.”
Watch the video to see how smallholder farmers have benefitted from sustainable agriculture practices.
