Program ILHAM update: ongoing training and a subsidized bio-fertilizer program for our palm oil smallholders

In October 2019, we and our partners IOI Corporation Berhad (IOI), Kilang Kelapa Sawit Fortuna and Kerry Group, organized the second edition of a Best Manage-ment Practice (BMP) workshop for smallholders participating in Program ILHAM.

Held in Paitan, a remote northern district in Sabah, the workshop included small-holders from surrounding villages who actively send their fresh fruit bunches to Fortunas collecting centers in the Paitan and Sugut districts.

Like the first workshop held in July 2019, participants were presented with a range of topics relevant to the smallholders, delivered by experts across Bunge Loders Croklaan (BLC) and our partner organizations. The format was largely interactive and saw enthusiastic par-ticipation from the farmers who went on to sign a letter of commitment to confirm their inclusion in the program. To date, 112 palm oil smallholders across nine communities have signed up for the program. This collaborative smallholder program supports and empowers smallholders in sustainable agriculture production.

Bio-Fertilizer program

Additionally, BLC and IOI have put together a recommendation for fertilizer application for all participating farmers based on smallholder data collected, as well as soil and foliar sampling exercises conducted in 2019. A subsidy of about 65% will be provided to all smallholders that purchase the specially formulated bio-fertilizers. Fertilizer distribution and application will start this month onwards. There will be four application rounds scheduled for this year: February, May, August and October.