Sustain Kutim 2024 annual project progress update

Photo caption:  A participatory mapping exercise between the local community and initiative partners

Introduced in 2023, the Sustainable Landscape Initiative in Kutai Timur (SUSTAIN KUTIM) was developed to support the East Kutai District Government commitment to achieve sustainable agriculture production for East Kutai.

The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of the East Kutai District Government, local communities, smallholders, workers, and plantation companies to cooperate in transforming East Kutai into a sustainable region in agricultural (with a focus on palm oil) production. 

A year into the initiative, we are proud to share SUSTAIN KUTIM’s 2024 annual project progress update.

Among the key achievements from the year include:

1. A formal Multi Stakeholder Forum coordinated by the Regional Development Planning Agency (BAPPEDA) serves to facilitate constructive dialogue on sustainable development themes involving stakeholder representatives from the government, companies, smallholders, and development partners. 
2. A total area of more than 203,000 ha for potential high conversation value (HCV) area was identified in five priority villages (including forest area and other use area), with the relevant data submitted to the Agriculture Department (Disbun) for further review. This will lead to the development of village conservation regulations and management plans via the engagement of local companies.
3. The initiative is helping farmers build more secure and productive futures. To date, 1,217 farmers across 4,419 hectares have had their land mapped to support assessments of tenure, legality, and ownership. As a result, 362 farmers have received official land certificates (SHM) and are now ready to register their farms through the national Cultivation Registration system (Surat Tanda Daftar Budidaya – STDB).
4. Through the Farmer Field School and other targeted support activities, the work is already showing promising results. Oil palm yields have increased by 20% year-on-year (yoy), reaching 16,119 kg/ha, while farmers’ incomes from oil palm have risen significantly—by 161% to 1,770 EUR/ha.