Piloting regenerative agriculture for oil palm smallholders in North Sumatra

ClientUnilever
Period2022 - 2023
LocationSimalungun, North Sumatera
Partner-
SectorsSustainable development, Agriculture
Focus Area

Implementing Regenerative Agriculture to strengthen sustainable production in Simalungun

Regenerative agriculture aims to strengthen sustainable production by improving soil and water conditions while at the same time contributing to improved local livelihoods, biodiversity and climate change mitigation. As a relatively new approach in the oil palm sector, there is need to develop practical methods that are appropriate and scaleable for smallholder communities in Indonesia.

Since 2022, with funding support from Unilever, Daemeter, has worked closely with oil palm farmers in Simalungun, North Sumatra, to adopt regenerative agricultural practices. The communities have responded enthusiastically, scaling up organic compost production to replace chemical fertiliser, beneficial for soil and water quality, while at the same time reducing production costs.

Other activities carried out by the Daemeter field team include: (1) increasing smallholder understanding of sustainable production, (2) strengthening the capacity of farmers to act as trainers themselves, and (3) improving the smallholders' collective organisation with the longer term aim to achieve certification.

OUR PROJECTS