Stories Rooted in Courage, Growing in Confidence: From Home to the Certification

Gunung Bakti, Subulussalam, Aceh, A woman divides her time between home, the plantation, and her family business in trading oil palm fresh fruit bunches. For years, she has balanced multiple roles – caring for her family while tending to her field. It has not always been easy, yet these daily experiences that gradually built her confidence and resilience. Over time, Risniati Tarigan discovered her own strength, as a trader, a group leader, and a woman who dared to step forward in a sector still largely dominated by men.

Over the past two years, through CV Perangin-Angin Group (PAG), Risniati has worked closely with two other male traders and nearly 300 independent smallholders who collectively manage around 680 hectares of oil palm plantations. In the past, many farmers relied on practices passed down through generations. Fertiliser often applied without proper measurement, fronds were stacked without clear purpose, and determining fruit ripeness largely based on experience rather than guidance.

Through her daily interactions with smallholders, Risniati began to wonder how these practices could be improved. She saw the potential for better productivity and quality if farmers were equipped with clearer knowledge and more structured approaches to managing their plantations.

Her journey with sustainability began through her work as a trader collecting fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from independent smallholders in her community. Through these interactions, Risniati witnessed first-hand the challenges smallholders face in maintaining the quality and consistency of their harvests.

When she first learned about the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training under the Sawit Terampil programme, she became curious and decided to learn more. As she began to understand the gap between existing farming practices and recommended agricultural standards, she encouraged the farmers supplying her with FFB to join the program.

Over time, the program also opened the opportunity for participants to pursue RSPO certification. Seeing the potential benefits, Risniati, together with two other traders and several hundred smallholders, decided to take this opportunity. In November 2025, CV Perangin-Angin Group (PAG) officially certified as an RSPO-certified smallholder group.

This achievement is the result of a collaboration between IDH, Mondelēz International, and Sinar Mas through the Sustainable Palm Oil Landscape Initiative in Aceh and North Sumatra, a four-year programme supported by the governments of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom through the National Initiatives for Sustainable Climate Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS).

For Risniawati, sustainability was not only about environmental responsibility, but also about the future of the palm oil industry. She believed that better farming practices would help farmers improve the quality of their harvests while creating a more stable and reliable supply chain. Through the training, she observed how farmers began adopting better cultivation practices, from proper fertilisation and harvesting techniques to simple but important measures such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while working.

As farmers adopted these practices, Risniati began to see the impact directly in her role as a trader. The quality of the fruit improved, harvests became more consistent, and the palm oil produced was easier to market. For her, sustainability is not just a concept, but a practical pathway that helps farmers grow better crops while ensuring the palm oil they produce can be more widely accepted in the market.

As a woman, the path was not always comfortable. In many meetings and discussions, Risniati was often the only woman present. Awkwardness, doubt, and moments of insecurity sometimes emerged. Yet she chose to persevere. For her, learning is everyone’s right, including women.

“I am proud,” she said. “I believe that women can be equal, educated, and succeed in this sector.”

For Risniati, the certification is proof that hard work, a willingness to learn, and the courage to change can lead to meaningful results. She now sees this achievement as more than just a certificate; it is a doorway for other women to step forward.

“I encourage other women to keep learning and growing together, supporting one another. I hope that in the future, more women will dare to step forward to improve the productivity of their land,” she said.

Risniati believes that behind every well-managed plantation lies a story of courage and growth. In Gunung Bakti Village, her journey reflects how perseverance and dedication can transform everyday work into something larger. Through continuous learning, Risniati continues to support farmers while demonstrating that women can play an important role across the palm oil value chain.