於棕櫚油業的買家和供應商關係

Abstract

Abstract

As the world population increases, the demand for food is growing year by year as well, in accordance with the population grow. The demand for crude palm oil (CPO) has increased tremendously during the past 10 years. Palm oil is the most traded vegetable oil in the international market. Palm Oil is widely used in various sectors in numerous products, including cooking oil, instant noodles, pastries and baked goods, biodiesel, oleo chemicals, and processed foods. Indonesia is the largest producer of palm oil in the world, followed by Malaysia, Thailand, Nigeria and Colombia. This case study will present the relationship between buyer (PT SMART Tbk, an integrated palm-based consumer company) and supplier (oil palm plasma farmers, or “smallholders”), to find out what benefit the suppliers gain from this partnership. Are the suppliers benefiting from this business with increased income? From the buyer’s perspective, what is the extent of their contribution to the CPO production? This study will use interviews conducted by the author with palm oil farmers to address these concerns and answer the following questions: Is it true that palm oil plantations in rural areas really manage to reduce poverty? This case study may prove beneficial for people in different underdeveloped countries that share the same climate with Indonesia as one of the potentia¬l solutions to reduce poverty in rural areas and increase their country’s GDP. In addition, this case study fills a gap in the available research about the palm oil industry by addressing its effects of rural poor who chose to become oil palm plasma farmers. While many publications have examined the palm oil industry and investment in palm oil production, this investigation aims to approach the subject from the overlooked perspective of the rural laborers, covering how the palm oil farmers started their plantation and how their new work has affected their income and quality of life.

Abstract

As the world population increases, the demand for food is growing year by year as well, in accordance with the population grow. The demand for crude palm oil (CPO) has increased tremendously during the past 10 years. Palm oil is the most traded vegetable oil in the international market. Palm Oil is widely used in various sectors in numerous products, including cooking oil, instant noodles, pastries and baked goods, biodiesel, oleo chemicals, and processed foods. Indonesia is the largest producer of palm oil in the world, followed by Malaysia, Thailand, Nigeria and Colombia. This case study will present the relationship between buyer (PT SMART Tbk, an integrated palm-based consumer company) and supplier (oil palm plasma farmers, or “smallholders”), to find out what benefit the suppliers gain from this partnership. Are the suppliers benefiting from this business with increased income? From the buyer’s perspective, what is the extent of their contribution to the CPO production? This study will use interviews conducted by the author with palm oil farmers to address these concerns and answer the following questions: Is it true that palm oil plantations in rural areas really manage to reduce poverty? This case study may prove beneficial for people in different underdeveloped countries that share the same climate with Indonesia as one of the potentia¬l solutions to reduce poverty in rural areas and increase their country’s GDP. In addition, this case study fills a gap in the available research about the palm oil industry by addressing its effects of rural poor who chose to become oil palm plasma farmers. While many publications have examined the palm oil industry and investment in palm oil production, this investigation aims to approach the subject from the overlooked perspective of the rural laborers, covering how the palm oil farmers started their plantation and how their new work has affected their income and quality of life.