Independent oil palm smallholder management practices and yields: can RSPO certification make a difference?

Abstract Smallholders are a substantial part of the oil palm sector and thus key to achieving more sustainable production. However, so far their yields remain below potential. The Roundtable on Sustainable Oil Palm (RSPO) aims include smallholders in sustainability certification strengthen rural livelihoods reduce negative environmental impacts. This study determine if how certified perform differently from non-certified counterparts terms management practices yields, what extent this is related RSPO certification. Certified had significantly better planting material ( tenera ) fertiliser use (16.8 vs 4.8 bags ha −1 yr higher (22.5 14.5 ton fresh fruit bunches 1 1, corrected for age). Planting harvesting frequency explained yields. These differences could not be attributed per se but were probably due pre-certification conditions, including strong group organisation. It remains question as can driver change by who have relatively larger yield gaps, lag behind eligibility criteria