Promoting inclusive and sustainable rubber farming

Indonesia’s rubber farming sector has long faced significant challenges, including low productivity, inconsistent quality, and limited market access for smallholder farmers. These issues have hindered the country’s ability to compete effectively globally. The Indonesian government, along with international donors and partners, launched the Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) Project to address these critical challenges. The initiative aims to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of Indonesia’s rubber industry by empowering smallholder farmers, improving their livelihoods, and ensuring compliance with international standards.

As part of the larger SAFE initiative, SNV implements the Sustainable and Traceable Natural Rubber (STNR) project, which aims to strengthen the capacity of independent smallholder rubber farmers. In addition to capacity building, rubber farmers will be able to actively and equitably participate in global supply chains—particularly by assisting them in meeting international sustainability standards such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The SAFE project is a joint initiative between the Government of Indonesia, the Federal Government of Germany, the European Union, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Coordinated by the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) and GIZ. The project embraces a multi-stakeholder approach, with SNV, Kirana Megatara, and Agridence as key implementing partners.

The STNR project marked a key milestone with the official launch of the Telapak Tani Rubber Depot in Sanggau District, West Kalimantan. During the event, a cooperation agreement between Bank Mandiri, the Sanggau District Plantation and Livestock Agency, and other project partners was signed—demonstrating a shared commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable rubber farming practices.

The Telapak Tani Rubber Depot is a practical solution to boost farmers’ bargaining power within the natural rubber value chain. Through this depot, farmers can sell their harvests directly to factories, cutting out intermediaries. The digital platform is user-friendly and ensures transparent and fair transactions, promoting better pricing, reducing dependency on middlemen, and opening up broader market access nationally and internationally.

The initiative supports Indonesia’s vision of becoming a leading global supplier of high-quality, sustainable rubber by building trust between farmers and other industry players.

SNV and partners are prioritising the development of a risk assessment tool to map potential risks in the rubber supply chain. The tool will be accessible and relevant for both farmers and local stakeholders. With insights from a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) conducted during the event, local government, the private sector, and rubber farmers from Sanggau, Landak, and Sintang—the three priority districts—agreed to work together to ensure the tool’s usability and responsiveness to local challenges.

In his remarks, Mr. H. Syafriansyah, SP., MM, Head of the Sanggau District Plantation and Livestock Agency, expressed strong appreciation for the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved. He emphasised the importance of joint action between farmers, local government, financial institutions, and the SAFE Project to ensure long-term success and meaningful impact.

Looking ahead, SNV, through the STNR project, is committed to supporting farmers by providing training, technical assistance, and access to finance. This comprehensive approach is expected to enhance productivity, boost farmers’ economic resilience, and protect the ecological integrity of upstream agricultural landscapes in West Kalimantan.