Identification of factors that promote CSR activities by Indonesian palm oil companies

Country
Indonesia

Description

Since 1977, the Indonesian Government has been implementing the oil palm estate development program called the Nucleus Estate Smallholders (NES), whose major objective is to promote benefit-sharing between estate companies and rural communities. The NES is a kind of land allocation agreement between small-scale farmers and estate companies. When companies develop new oil palm estates, they are obliged to allocate a part of the estate to small scale farmers, called “plasma farmers.” In addition to the NES program, palm oil companies have also taken an increased interest in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Although the primary objective of NES is profit making, it is believed that NES also promotes CSR activities by estate companies because collaborations with local communities under the NES program lead to a better understanding of rural societies by the companies. This study aimed to identify the factors that promote CSR activities by Indonesian palm oil companies through an analysis of questionnaire survey results answered by 132 member companies of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), which is the sole association of Indonesian palm oil producers.

The results of the questionnaire survey showed that all but two respondents were aware that their companies have been implementing CSR activities. Out of 16 CSR activities that were listed, “Infrastructure development” was the most common, followed by “Education support”, “Having CSR staff” and “Environment conservation” (Fig. 1). According to the basic procedures of the NES scheme as stipulated by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, estate companies are required to provide support activities such as “Technical support for crop production”, “Purchasing products at a guaranteed price”, and “Infrastructure development” to plasma farmers. However, among companies that implemented the NES scheme, only around 70% answered that they already provide these three support programs to plasma farmers (Fig. 2). The results of regression analysis performed on data from the questionnaire survey concluded that the performance of the NES scheme, the size of the company, and the perception of relationships with local communities are major driving forces that stimulate participation in CSR activities (Table 1). A previous study found that the NES scheme can improve the fresh fruit bunch yield of plasma farmers by promoting appropriate fertilizer use and providing high quality seedlings (JIRCAS Research Highlights in 2014). The results of the present study indicated that the NES scheme can also promote CSR activities by palm oil companies.

When the NES scheme was launched in 1977, the government strongly supported it with subsidies. However, recent policies have resulted in decreased direct support for the scheme. The findings of this study can be used as evidence for the government to create a more supportive environment to promote the NES scheme.

Figure, table

  1. Fig. 1. Number of companies devoted to CSR activities (n=132, Multiple answers allowed)

    Fig. 1. Number of companies devoted to CSR activities (n=132, Multiple answers allowed)

  2. Fig. 2. Implementation of eight programs in the NES scheme (n=91, Multiple answers allowed)

    Fig. 2. Implementation of eight programs in the NES scheme (n=91, Multiple answers allowed)

  3. Table 1. Summary results of regression analysis (n=115)

    Table 1. Summary results of regression analysis (n=115)
Affiliation

Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Research Strategy Office

Classification

Research

Program name

Rural Livelihood Improvement

Term of research

FY2013(FY2011-FY2013)

Responsible researcher

Sugino Tomohide ( Research Strategy Office )

KAKEN Researcher No.: 50425526
MIERUKA ID: 001753

Mayrowani Henny ( Indonesian Center for Agricultural Socio Economic and Policy Studies )

Kobayashi Hiroaki ( Chiba University )

ほか
Publication, etc.

Sugino, T. et al. (2015) Japanese Journal of Rural Economics 17: 18-34

Japanese PDF

2015_C10_A4_ja.pdf469.63 KB

2015_C10_A3_ja.pdf275.4 KB

English PDF

2015_C10_A4_en.pdf93.76 KB

2015_C10_A3_en.pdf79.81 KB

Poster PDF

2015_C10_poster.pdf345.75 KB

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