Partnerships for involving small-scale growers in commercial forestry: lessons from Australia and Indonesia

Abstract

The trade relationship between small-scale growers and processing companies often plays an important role in determining the nature and extent of benefi ts derived from commercial forestry, and the distribution of these benefi ts. Many strategies are used by individual small-scale growers, village communities, companies and government agencies to form partnerships to undertake commercial forestry-including outgrower schemes, land leasing by companies, and using intermediary brokers between small-scale growers and processors. This article reports on the key fi ndings of a three-year research project that explored different business partnerships used in commercial forestry in Australia and Indonesia, and identifi ed the critical factors for benefi cial and enduring partnerships. The key lessons from this research are that, for many small-scale growers to form successful partnerships with other investors, they need: • increased knowledge of the operations and components of commercial forestry; • improved access to competitive markets; • increased knowledge of the dynamics of forest product markets; • improved capacity of local farmer forest groups to share experiences and information, and build their knowledge of commercial forestry; and • reduced administrative and fi nancial burden imposed by government on small-scale forestry operations.

Post-permit social forestry: An analysis of the economic impact of the forestry revolving fund facility to the community of forest farmers

“…The various kinds of partnerships that have been carried out are (1) Bringing in Off Takers to purchase farmers' coffee production; (2) Providing capital support; (3) Providing education and training; (4) Providing assistance; (5) Provide counselling. The smallest percentage of partnership type was from the aspect of market and capital, even though these were the two things that farmers mostly needed for coffee commodity was still in low price [17].…”

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“…Pendekatan kemitraan ini kemudian banyak digunakan dalam manajemen kehutanan partisipatif terutama di negaranegara berkembang, dengan variasi pengaturan pola kemitraan yang sangat beragam, baik pelaku yang bermitra, latar belakang, dan tujuannya (Race et al, 2009).…”

Kelembagaan Kemitraan Pengelolaan Hutan Rakyat Di Provinsi Jawa Barat

“…Dengan adanya kemitraan diharapkan akan terjadi pergeseran paradigma petani ke arah pengelolaan yang bersifat modern dan komersial. mitraanya itu kurangnya mekanisme untuk membangun kepercayaan, tidak mempunyai strategi jangka panjang yang jelas (Nawir dan Santoso 2005), petani kurang memiliki pengetahuan tentang harga pasar, akses terhadap pasar yang lemah, tidak mampu bernegosiasi (Race 2009). Untuk itu perlu tercipta keseimbangan antara petani dengan mitra sehingga kemitraan menguntungkan kedua pihak.…”

“…Hal ini karena petani sudah mempunyai pengetahuan tentang informasi harga dan pasar sehingga mempunyai kemampuan negosiasi harga dengan pembeli kayu. Di lain pihak petani menganggap bahwa bantuan bibit dan pupuk pada awal penanaman dari perusahaan tidak begitu berarti dibandingkan biaya keseluruhan yang diperlukan untuk memelihara tanaman sampai penebangan (Race ., 2009). …”