Palm oil company supports farmers

New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL) in Papua New Guinea was one of the first companies that achieved RSPO certification in 2008. It is now supporting the country’s extension service OPIC to integrate the RSPO Principles and Criteria for sustainable palm oil production in their extension work and to demonstrate to smallholders how to achieve RSPO compliance.

Target

To help smallholders to comply with RSPO standards.

Reason

Approximately 7.000 small scale producers supply their palm fruit directly to NBPOL. In order to engage these small scale farmers in the certified palm oil chain, Solidaridad, NBPOL and the country’s extension service OPIC entered into a partnership.

Activities

• A field and practice training module was designed and an intensive classroom and field training course has been organised for 30 OPIC agents.
• The 30 OPIC agents will train 7.000 small scale palm oil farmers in Papua New Guinea.

 Results

• Training will improve the farmers' skills on agricultural management, environmental responsibility and occupational health and safety (OHS). Smallholders will in turn be able to improve productivity and improve margins.

Facts

• Location: Papua New Guinea, West New Britain province.
• Duration: approx 1 year
• Budget:  approx € 120.000.