Fairtrade International delivers joint initiative to assist Indonesian farmers

A major joint initiative to support smallholder farmers in Indonesia has been launched between Fairtrade International and local NGO, Yayasan Bina Desa Sadajiwa (Bina Desa), writes Neill Barston.

The four-year European Union-funded initiative has been devised to help agricultural communities, including within cocoa – which is the third largest producing nation in the world behind Ghana and Ivory Coast, in tackling the impact of climate change, as well as gaining access to sustainable markets around the world.

Furthermore, the scheme is also targeting gains in gender equality within agricultural supply chains, with many locations in the region having remained traditionally male dominated. As research by many organisations, including Fairtrade has found over many years, schemes to empower women in communities with regard to agricultural training and enabling access to wider economic opportunities has proved highly successful in transforming the performance of agricultural outputs.

Fairtrade’s latest initiative, “Transitioning Towards Green Resilience: Building Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural Communities” is financed by the European Union’s Civil Society Organisations Thematic Programme and will be supporting Indonesia’s “Just Green Transition.” The EU funding for this project totals €1 million.

More than 1,600 smallholder farmers, at least 30 percent of whom are women, across two major Indonesian islands Java and Sulawesi, will be equipped to adopt sustainable farming practices and improve their livelihoods. Community-based organisations, youth consumers, and local authorities will also be engaged in promoting environmentally sound and inclusive rural development.

The initiative, which runs from November 2025 to October 2029, is based on three action pillars: Building Farmer Capacity: Training of Trainers on sustainable agriculture, gender equality, and financial literacy; support for organic certification and climate-resilient farming.

Notably, the second pilar is of Strengthening Farmer Organisations: Business development coaching, community sustainability grants, and policy advocacy training. and finally, creating market demand and policy influence. This is attained through consumer campaigns, producer–buyer networking, and policy dialogue with government stakeholders.

“This four-year programme represents a major step toward supporting smallholder farmers, particularly women, to adapt to climate change, strengthen their cooperatives, and access sustainable markets,” said Bindu Sukumarapillai, the CEO of Fairtrade Network of Asia Pacific Producers (NAPP). “By fostering inclusive, climate-resilient, and gender-equitable farming communities, we aim to advance Indonesia’s Just Green Transition while contributing to both national priorities and the EU’s sustainability goals. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a more resilient, fair, and sustainable agricultural future.”

Moreover, Armin Salassa, Program Coordinator at Bina Desa, welcomed the joint venture as a key success.

“This project gives smallholder farmers and rural communities a stronger voice in shaping their future. Together, we will work to ensure that the green transition in Indonesia is inclusive, locally driven, and truly benefits those at the heart of agriculture,” noted the sector specialist.

Aligned with Indonesia’s Presidential Instruction No. 9/2025 – which promotes the revitalization of rural cooperatives and sustainable village economies – and with EU sustainability regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the project complements ongoing national and international efforts to promote sustainable and inclusive agriculture.

Fairtrade International contributes global expertise in sustainable value chains and certification, while Bina Desa brings deep local experience in rural development. Together with Fairtrade NAPP, the partnership ensures strong local ownership and alignment with national priorities