534 DOI: 10.5373/JARDCS/V12I6/S20201060
*Corresponding Author: Junaidi Email: [email protected]
Article History: Received: Mar 12, 2020, Accepted: June 15, 2020
Managing the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations through cultural transformation and partnership approach
Junaidi1, Ardiya2
Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Lancang Kuning, Pekanbaru, Indonesia. Email: [email protected] Faculty of Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau, Indonesia.
Abstract-Riau Province has the largest oil palm plantation in Indonesia. Most of the plantations are smallholder oil palm plantations. Unfortunately, the productivity of the smallholder oil palm plantations seems much lower than that of corporation oil palm plantations. Therefore, the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations needs to be improved. This article aims to examine the condition of the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations and to search for strategies for improving smallholder oil palm plantations by cultural transformation and partnership approach.The research on cultural transformation to increase the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations was carried out in three regencies, namely Kampar, Bengkalis, and Indragiri Hulu Regency.
The data of this research were obtained from direct observation, interview, questionnaire, and focus group discussion (FGD).The finding reveals that the major problems that hamper the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations are negative work ethic and lack of knowledge in the management of smallholder oil palm plantations. For this reason, it is necessary to implement a cultural transformation approach for the smallholder oil palm plantation management. A partnership amongst local government, private oil palm companies, and the oil palm smallholders are highly required to implement the cultural transformation.
Keywords: Cultural transformation, Partnership, Plantation, Smallholder oil palm plantati
Introduction
In the history of human life, agriculture has played a very important to meet the needs of people since long time ago. The role cannot be separated from human life. The cultural term in Latin colere means cultivation or farming (Poerwanto, 2008: 51). This shows how close the relationship between agriculture and culture is. Since the relationship between agriculture and human life is close, agriculture is influenced by the culture of communities around agricultural land. Lowrey (1992) further stated ‘Agriculture is not only about seeds and soil, sun and rain, but also about the people who plan and produce each season's crop’. Thus, agriculture is influenced by not only natural factors such as seeds, soil, sun, and rain but also people who grow and cultivate the land. Human creativity in cultivating agricultural land is part of a cultural activity. All of the activities done by farmers are driven by norms, ideas, and habits that originate from their culture. Therefore, giving holistic attention to the natural and cultural aspects of the agricultural sector is very important because these two elements cannot be separated from human life.
Cultural influences in agricultural management are not only about traditional agriculture but also modern agriculture. Leander (1992) highlighted that there had been a close relationship between culture and agriculture throughout the ages. Although today farmers managing agriculture are influenced by science and technology, the cultural aspects of farmers still play an important role in agricultural management. Adaptation of technology and the application of agricultural science will also be influenced by the cultural outlook of the community.
Behavior and habits of the community bring an impact on the productivity of agricultural land that is cultivated.
If farmers manage their land well, they will have a better life. Therefore, the development program in agriculture aims to improve the welfare of farmers by increasing the productivity of agricultural products through creative human resources (Budiman, 1995).
Because agriculture is closely related to culture, a smart solution to increase the productivity of farmers is to implement a cultural approach. The cultural approach is very effective to increase the work ethic of farmers so that the productivity of their agricultural land keeps increasing. Lowrey (1995) highlighted the importance of the implementation of culturally sensitive approach or cultural approach by focusing on effective communication, community participation, and the use of highly effective media to encourage farmers to find out solutions related to their agricultural business.
Rusli et al. (1996) said that the plantation sub-sector in Riau Province moved faster than the food crop sub- sector. He further stated that the agriculture that underlies the lives of the people in Riau is dryland farming.
535 Farmers in Riau like cultivating oil palm better than other commodities. Increasing the production and quality of oil palm plantations will automatically improve the socio-economic conditions of farmers. Oil palm has already been part of farmers in Riau, and it is a reliable commodity in Riau Province (Sachiho, 2008). Besides supported by natural condition, the agricultural system for the people of Riau is a sort of adaptation in agriculture since the weather and soil fertility in Riau are not as good as those in Java.
In practice, oil palm smallholders usually focus on attempts to gain short-term maximum income (Syahza, 2003a) and they do not concern about long-term risks, such as decreasing land productivity (Syahza, 2004) and environmental pollution. The big problems that the smallholders have included (1) improper crop husbandry, (2) low technological innovations, and (3) land degradation due to inappropriate fertilization. If these problems are not resolved, they will not only decrease productivity but also bring disadvantages for oil palm plantation. The problems will be more and more complex if population growth follows them. This relationship is called building block balancing, the solution is building block reinforcing relationships to palm oil production, through technological advances (Wigena et al. 2009). The smallholders may achieve higher income by either increasing productivity (output) or reducing production cost. The introduction of meranti tree planting in oil palm plantations will increase output and bring multiplier effects to the economy of the smallholders in particular and nationally in general (Ervayenri et al. 2007).
Siswati and Ariyanto (2012) said that farmers integrating food crops, plantation crops and animalhusbandry could open job opportunities for the community and increase their productivity and income.
The optimal scheme of diversification is oil palm, rubber, and cocoa plantations as well as animal husbandry (Siswati and Insusanty, 2008). Also, the largest farmers' income is obtained from oil palm plantations (Siswati and Ariyanto, 2009). The optimal use of farming resources of Hutan Adat Rumbio (Rumbio customary forest) for oil palm plantations is 2,029 ha, rubber plantations are 1,483 ha, animal husbandry is six (6) cows (Siswati and Aryanto, 2010). Siswati and Ervayenri (2012) said that the integration of oil palm and animalhusbandry is profitable and can increase farmers' income.
Methods
The research on cultural transformation to increase the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations was carried out in three regencies, namely Kampar, Bengkalis, and Indragiri Hulu Regency. The data of this research were obtained from direct observation, interview, questionnaire, and focus group discussion (FGD).
Research findings and analysis
The data obtained from the direct observations, interviews, questionnaires, and focus group discussions are used as the basis to carry out the cultural transformation to increase the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations. The model of cultural transformation focuses on changes in social behavior in the management of their oil palm plantations. The goal of the cultural transformation approach aims to empower the community so that they can maximize the potential of their oil palm plantations. The approach also aims to provide suggestions for sustainability of smallholder oil palm husbandry so that the smallholder oil palm plantations can bring maximum benefit for the people of the community.The cultural transformation approach to increase the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations include cultural aspects, transformation methods, and transformation outcomes. The cultural transformation approach is as described in the following Figure 1.
536 DOI: 10.5373/JARDCS/V12I6/S20201060
*Corresponding Author: Junaidi Email: [email protected]
Article History: Received: Mar 12, 2020, Accepted: June 15, 2020
Figure 1.The Cultural Transformation Approach to Increase the Productivity of Smallholder Oil Palm Plantations
Cultural aspects that need to be transformed include knowledge, habits, work ethic, behavior, organization, partnership scheme and government policies. While the transformation methods that can be used include workshop, training on motivation, organization establishment and empowerment and partnership establishment, and regulation drafting. Through cultural transformation, it is expected that the smallholders will gainmore knowledge, they will be more punctual, their work ethics will increase to be more productive, they can establish smallholder groups and cooperatives and partnership with both oil palmcompanies and local governments, and the promulgation of regulation about oil palm empowerment involving government, oil palm companies and smallholders oil palm plantations. The cultural transformation approach for the improvement of smallholder oil palm plantation productivity is presented in the following.
Lack of knowledge-workshops-knowledge elevation
Most of the smallholders have very little knowledge about oil palm plantations. They only know how to manage oil palm fromother people they know. Lack ofknowledge brings a negative impact on their oil palm production.
Most of them almost never read books or magazines about oil palm. Their low interest to deepen their knowledge of oil palm is because they are not well-educated. Therefore, workshops, training, and partnershipcould be proper ways to improve their knowledge about oil palm. Also, universities, oil palm companies around the smallholder oil palm plantations and local governments through relevant agenciesmay involve increasing the knowledge of the smallholders. A partnership program is undeniably necessary to do to increase the productivity of the smallholders. Localgovernment should be responsible for providing facilities to improve the knowledge of the smallholders. An oil palm corporation that has a lot of experience and experts in the oil palm field should share their knowledge with the smallholders. Higher education institutions that have scientists and innovations can renew the knowledge of the smallholders. If they are not assisted, fostered and facilitated, they will remain left behind in oil palm management. Sufficient knowledge will make them more enthusiastic in running their oil palm plantation business. The more they know about oil palm, the more they care about their oil palm plantation. Workshop for the smallholders should be presented in a simple way and by their needs. If necessary, the workshops should be carried out in a local language of the smallholders because a lot of oil palm smallholders cannot speak Indonesian. If not, an interpreter should interpret what speakers of the workshop say in Indonesian to a local language of the smallholders. Also, the strategy used by the speakers should be as simple as possible since most of the smallholders do not have high school education backgrounds.
537 Technical termsshould be simplified into more operational terms so that the smallholders easily understand them.
Unpunctual habits-training on motivation-punctual habits
Unpunctual habitsmay bring negative impact on the way the smallholders manage their oil palm plantations. Oil palm as a plant for industrial purposes requires very good management. The management of oil palm plantations commences from land clearing to production. Oil palm plantations must be sustainably well-managed. If they are not well-managed, the crops will be not good. Land clearing, seed selection, planting, crop husbandry and harvesting require punctuality. Therefore, the smallholders’unpunctual habits should be changed to be punctual habits. The change, of course, should start from the mindset of the smallholders. Changing habits is not easy, and it requires a long process. The right strategy to change the habits is to motivate the smallholders. Speakers of workshops may motivate the smallholders simultaneously while presenting learning materials on oil palm plantations. Motivation sessions must be designed by the ability of the smallholders. The session should be so simple and not provocative that the smallholders are inspired. Speakers of the workshop should avoid using low-frequency words and technical terms because they will be difficult for the smallholders. The motivation session should be enriched with success stories of oil palm smallholders. The stories will be very helpful in motivating them to be more punctual in the management of oil palm plantations. Motivation sessions should also be equipped with audio-visual devices to make the session more attractive and easily understood by the smallholders.
Negativework ethic-training on motivation-positive work ethic
Work ethics are influenced by many factors. Negative work ethics will result in low productivity. On the other hand,Positive work ethics will result in high productivity. Therefore, the smallholders should implement the positive work ethics. The way used to make the smallholders aware of positive work ethics is by conducting training on motivation. The motivation for positive work ethics aims to raise the enthusiasm of the smallholders in managing their oil palm plantations. The ethics should rise from their own heart. Stereotypes of particular ethnic groups should be well identified. People living in the Kampar regency are stereotyped to have a Negative work ethic. Therefore, certain strategies are required to improve their work ethics. The way to improve the smallholder work ethics should also be adjusted to the culture of the oil palm smallholders. Words or phrases used should be simple but inspiring. Training to improve the work ethic must be carried out gradually and continuously so that their work ethic continues to increase. Workshops should always be presented together with a motivation session so that the work ethics of the smallholders can be well maintained.
Unproductive behavior-training on motivation-productive behavior
Unproductive behavior must be transformed into productive behavior. The productive behavior is a behavior aimed to increase the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations. It means that the oil palm smallholders must keep and endeavor to improve the productivity of their oil palm plantations. Productive behavior can be achieved by attending training on motivation. The training on motivation to achieve the productive behavior is similar to the training on motivation to increase the work ethic of the smallholders. By implementing the productive behavior, the smallholders will be more active in managing their oil palm plantations. Increased productive behavior will make the productivity of the smallholders’ crops increased.
Lack of organization-organization establishment and empowerment-the availability of the smallholder groups and cooperatives
The existence of organizations such as cooperatives and smallholder groupsis very important as a discussion forum. Cooperatives also play an important role to assist the smallholders to get the supply of seeds, fertilizer, and to sell oil palm products. Not only cooperatives but also the smallholder groups are useful for them to communicate their ideas. Therefore, cooperatives and smallholder groups should be established as soon as possible. Cooperatives and smallholder groups make cooperation or partnership with other parties easier to run.
Also, both oil palm companies and local government will establish cooperation with organizations of the smallholders, not with an individual smallholder.
The partnershipscheme-building cooperation-sustainable cooperation
Empowerment of the oil palm smallholders should involve other parties such as local government and companies around the oil palm plantation. An oil palm company usually has to run a corporate social responsibility program to increase the productivity of the oil palm smallholdersnext to the company. The partnership scheme that can be implemented is that the company assists the smallholders so that the production
538 DOI: 10.5373/JARDCS/V12I6/S20201060
*Corresponding Author: Junaidi Email: [email protected]
Article History: Received: Mar 12, 2020, Accepted: June 15, 2020
of smallholder oil palm plantations is as good as or at least almost as good as the productivity of the company's oil palm plantation. If the quality of oil palm products owned by the smallholders is as good as for that of the corporation's crops, the corporation may purchase the oil palm products owned by the smallholders. By purchasing oil palm products belonging to the smallholders at a reasonable price, the smallholders can grow oilpalm well, and they will be able to buy fertilizer needed by the oil palm plantations. The partnership schemes involving local governments, companies and the smallholders should be regularly developed by the smallholders that are unable to develop their potential.
Government policy-regulation drafting-issued regulations
To ensure the implementation of partnership schemesamongst local governments, corporations, universities, and smallholders, regulations are required. One of the most indispensable regulations is a regental regulation or local regulation. This regulation is very important to stipulate a clear role of a corporate to carry out corporate social responsibility programs. Also, aid awarded by a corporation brings advantages to both society and corporation business. Therefore, it is very necessary to formulate regional regulations which in detail regulate which companies are obliged to award aid. In the drafting of regional regulation, deep analysis should be carried out to ensure the number of corporations and distribution of their oil palm plantations.
Conclusions
The research findings reveal that the big problems that hinder the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations are the Negative work ethic and lack of knowledge in the management of smallholder oil palm plantations. For this reason, it is necessary to apply the cultural transformation for the smallholders. To succeed the transformation, cooperation amongst local government, oil palm corporation and oil palm smallholdersis required. The cooperation requires policies and regulations stipulated in regional or local laws. The implementation of cultural transformation and the availability of regional or local regulations, empowerment of smallholder oil palm plantations may increasethe productivity of the plantations. This research suggests the commitment of local governments to issue regulations related to the empowerment of smallholder oil palm plantations in a partnership scheme. Also, the oil palm corporation in Riau province should participate in assisting and fostering the oil palm smallholders in the province as an implementation of a corporate social responsibility program.
References
[1] Basiron Y, Weng CK (2004) The oil palm and its sustainability. Journal of Oil Palm Research. 16(1).
[2] Budiman A (1996) Pendekatan bioregional dalam manajemen konservasi. Proceeding of Manajemen Bioconservation Management, Jakarta 5-6 November. Biology Study Program, Graduate Studies of Universitas Indonesia 10-20.
[3] Berkes F, Colding J, Folke C (2000) Rediscovery of traditional ecological knowledge as adaptive management. Ecological applications. 10(5): 1251-1262.
[4] Chavalparit O, Rulkens WH, Mol APJ, Khaodhair S (2006) Options for environmental sustainability of the crude palm oil industry in Thailand through enhancement of industrial ecosystems. Environment, Development and Sustainability. 8(2): 271-287.
[5] Chong KP, Dayou J, Alexander A (2017) Control methods of G. boninense in oil palm industry. In Detection and Control of Ganoderma boninense in Oil Palm Crop (pp. 21-30). Springer, Cham.
[6] De Man R, Burns TR (2006) Sustainability: supply chains, partner linkages, and new forms of self- regulation. Human Systems Management. 25(1): 1-12.
[7] Ervayenri (2007) Keanekaragaman jenis fungi Mikoriza Arbuskula (FMA) di lahan tambang minyak bumi. Presented in the National Seminar on Mikoriza: The Acceleration of Mikoriza Technology for Forestry, Agriculture and Platation, Bogor, 19-20 Jul 2007. IPB Bogor, Dept.Kehutanan Jakarta, AMI Bogor. P. 3.
[8] LeanderB (1995) Culture and agriculture a historical perspectice. In Culture and Agriculture Orientation Texts. Unesco.
[9] LowreP (1995) Participation:FAO’s answer. In Culture and Agriculture Orientation Texts. Unesco.
[10] McCarthy J, Zen Z (2010) Regulating the oil palm boom: assessing the effectiveness of environmental governance approaches to agro‐industrial pollution in Indonesia. Law & Policy. 32(1): 153-179.
[11] Oosterveer P (2015) Promoting sustainable palm oil: viewed from a global networks and flows perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production. 107, 146-153.
539 [12] Pleanjai S, Gheewala SH, Garivait S (2007) Environmental evaluation of biodiesel production from
palm oil in a life cycle perspective. Asian J. Energy Environ. 8(1): 15-32.
[13] Prasertsa S, Prasertsan P (1996) Biomass residues from palm oil mills in Thailand: an overview on quantity and potential usage. Biomass and Bioenergy. 11(5): 387-395.
[14] Rupani PF, Singh RP, Ibrahim MH, Esa N (2010) Review of current palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment methods: vermicomposting as a sustainable practice. World Applied Sciences Journal. 11(1):
70-81.
[15] Rusli S et al. (1996) Pembangunan dan fenomena kemiskinan kasus profil Riau. Jakarta: Grasindo.
[16] Sachiho AW (2008) Pembangunan perkebun kelapa sawit di Propinsi Riau: sebuah tafsiran seputar pemberdayaan petani kebun. Komaba Studies in Human Geography. Vol.19:1-16.
[17] Siswati L, Ariyanto A (2012) Model pertanian terpadu perkebunan, tanaman pangan dan ternak sapi.
National Seminar on The Utilization of Research Findings for Public. 25 Feb 2012 in Padang.
[18] Siswati L, Ariyanto A (2009) Distribusi pendapatan petani di sekitar hutan adat rumbio. Wahana Foresta Vol. 2 no 2. :12-22.
[19] Siswati L, Aryanto A (2010) Peningkatan pendapatan masyarakat sekitar hutan adat kabupaten kampar melalui pola diversifikasi perkebunan, tanaman pangan dan ternak. Jurnal Peternak UNJA.
[20] Siswati L, Insusanty E (2008) Pola diversivikasi perkebunan, tanaman pangan, ternak sapi di sekitar hutan Kab. Indragiri Hulu. Jurnal Peternakan UIN SUSKA Vol.4.No.2: 23-34.
[21] Syahza A (2003) Rancangan model pemberdayaan ekonomi pedesaan melalui pembangunan agroestat kelapa sawit di Daerah Riau. Jurnal Ekonomi. No.VIII/02: 194-205.
[22] Syahza A (2003) Prospek pembangunan industri minyak goreng di daerah riau. Sosiohumaniora Vol. 5 No 1: 68-77.
[23] Turner PD, Gillbanks RA (1974) Oil palm cultivation and management. Oil palm cultivation and management.
[24] Von Geibler J (2013) Market-based governance for sustainability in value chains: conditions for successful standard setting in the palm oil sector. Journal of Cleaner Production. 56, 39-53.
[25] WigenaIGP. et al. (2009) Desain model pengelolaan kebun kelapa sawit berkelanjutan berbasis pendekatan system dinamis (Studi kasus kebun kelapa sawit plasma PTP Nusantara V Sei Pagar Kabupaten Kampar). Jurnal Agro Ekonomi. Vol.27 No.1:81 – 108.