Small palm oil farmers form firefighting groups to combat haze

Independent oil palm growers in Indonesia and Malaysia are forming volunteer firefighting groups and pooling resources to clear land without using fire.

These farmers aim to protect their crops and local communities from recurring wildfires and the resulting haze. To achieve this, some growers use income from sustainability credits to purchase equipment, such as tractors, which neighbors can use to clear land safely.

Farmers like Linella Pallai in Sabah, Malaysia, report that haze poses serious health risks to children and reduces visibility on roads. While moving toward sustainable practices can increase yields and lower costs, smallholders often lack the resources to manage the transition alone. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) states that smallholders should not have to bear the costs of sustainability independently. Organizations like Wild Asia provide training and technical assistance to help these growers navigate the certification process.

The RSPO warns that smallholders face the risk of passive exclusion if buyers only purchase from farmers who already meet strict standards. Guntur Prabowo of the RSPO argues that companies must include smallholder production in their purchasing policies rather than just rewarding those who are already compliant. The goal is to ensure that financial incentives from sustainability credits reach the farmers directly to maintain their practices.