Sustainability Concept’s Interpretation Affecting Native Farmers’ Participation on JCSPO Initiative and Governance in Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

This study investigates how the contradiction of sustainability concept’s interpretation between the policy makers and Sabahan native farmers impacts on the slow participation in the Jurisdictional Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (JCSPO) initiative. Triangulation methodology combining documentation method, ethnographic fieldwork, semi-structured interviews and focus group meetings with 155 key stakeholders were conducted in Sabah for over a fourteen-month period. Thematic approach and narrative analysis were utilized to analyse and interpret data collected on field. Findings revealed that unique native farmers’ characteristics, local customary law and cultural belief impacted their extent of participation in JCSPO initiative. The analysis indicated that the vague sustainability concept and the element of commercialism embedded of the JCSPO initiative further exacerbated the clash of sustainability concept’s interpretation of the native smallholders, which ultimately complicates the governance of the farmers. Findings on specific aspects of sustainability concept’s differences as identified in this study may provide awareness for policy makers for restrengthening the initiative by redefine, realigning and rebalancing the sustainability concept based on local needs and acceptance.