Farmers’ Perceptions of Sustainable Palm Oil Certification in Jambi Province

Abstract

The purpose of implementing ISPO is to increase the competitiveness of palm oil products for the international market. However, most of the independent smallholders have not implemented the ISPO policy. This is because farmers’ awareness of sustainable oil palm farming is still relatively low. Therefore, it is necessary to study farmers’ perceptions of ISPO. The purpose of this study was to determine farmers’ perceptions and to analyze the relationship between farmer characteristics and farmers’ perceptions of ISPO. This research was conducted in one of Indonesia’s palm oil production centers, namely Jambi Province. This study involved a sample of 300 respondents using the multistage disproportionate purposive sampling. Data were analyzed descriptively qualitatively using descriptive data analysis techniques using a Likert scale measurement approach and testing the characteristic relationship hypothesis using the Spearman Rank Correlation Test. The results showed that farmers have a high perception of the implementation of ISPO (3.47 Likert scale) and the benefits of ISPO (4.38 Likert scale). Farmers’ overall perception of ISPO implementation is positive. Farmers like indicators of relative advantage, compatibility, trialability, observability and environmental aspects but do not like complexity indicators. Characteristics of farmers that correlate with farmers’ perceptions are formal education, non-formal education, and income.