Design of PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV (PTPN IV) Partnership Model with Smallholder Institutions to Support Continuity of Sustainable Fresh Fruit Bunch Supply

Abstract

PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV (PTPN IV) sebagai perusahaan kelapa sawit milik negara memiliki ketergantungan yang cukup tinggi terhadap pemenuhan pasokan bahan baku tandan buah segar (TBS) untuk pabrik kelapa sawit (PKS), yaitu lebih dari 30% TBS berasal dari pasokan bahan baku yang dibeli. Kemitraan antara perusahaan kelapa sawit dan lembaga petani swadaya memegang peranan strategis dalam memastikan ketersediaan pasokan TBS yang berkelanjutan dan berkesinambungan. Penelitian ini menganalisis model-model kemitraan yang diterapkan, faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi keberhasilannya, serta dampaknya terhadap stabilitas pasokan TBS. Pendekatan penelitian kualitatif digunakan dengan studi kasus pada beberapa perusahaan kelapa sawit yang bekerja sama dengan koperasi petani swadaya. Temuan penelitian menunjukkan bahwa model kemitraan yang didasarkan pada transparansi harga, bantuan teknis, dan skema insentif yang adil memberikan kontribusi signifikan terhadap keberlanjutan pasokan TBS. Sebagai kesimpulan, kemitraan yang dikelola dengan baik antara perusahaan dan lembaga petani swadaya dapat menciptakan sistem pasokan TBS yang stabil, meningkatkan kesejahteraan, dan mendorong praktik perkebunan yang berkelanjutan.

Partnership in the palm oil plantation business has now become a necessity. PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV (PTPN IV) as a state-owned palm oil company has a reasonably high dependence on the fulfillment of the supply of raw materials for oil palm fruit bunches (FFB) for palm oil mills (PKS), namely more than 30% of FFB comes from the supply of raw materials purchased. The fulfillment of the supply of raw materials purchased comes from FFB owned by PTPN IV's partner plantation institutions and third-party purchases. Since the 1980s, PTPN IV has established partnerships with plantation institutions in the form of Koperasi Unit Desa (KUD) by building more than 219,000 Ha of plasma areas in various regions of Indonesia. However, since the 2000s, the partnership relationship between PTPN IV and KUD in all regions has begun to experience a rift, as indicated by the decreasing supply of FFB from KUD to PTPN IV's PKS. Not a few KUD areas have begun to be managed individually by farmers so that they no longer go through institutional patterns. These could result in the cessation of TBS supply to PTPN IV PKS, thus potentially experiencing idle capacity and unsustainable business processes. The partnership between palm oil companies and smallholder institutions plays a strategic role in ensuring the continuous and sustainable supply of fresh fruit bunches (FFB). This study aims to analyze the partnership models implemented, the factors influencing their success, and their impact on FFB supply stability. A qualitative research approach was used, employing case studies of several palm oil companies collaborating with smallholder cooperatives. The findings indicate that partnership models based on price transparency, technical assistance, and fair incentive schemes significantly contribute to the sustainability of FFB supply. Furthermore, strong smallholder institutions and supportive government policies are key factors in the success of these partnerships. In conclusion, a well-managed partnership between companies and smallholder institutions can create a stable FFB supply system, improve smallholder welfare, and promote sustainable plantation practices.