SRI expands smallholder support programme in Indonesia

Tokyo – Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has expanded its programme to support smallholder natural rubber (NR) farmers in Indonesia as part of efforts to strengthen sustainable NR procurement.

The second phase of the Sustainable Natural Rubber (SNR) project began in April 2026, building on a programme launched in 2022 by SRI’s procurement subsidiary, Sumitomo Rubber Singapore, said the Dunlop brand-owner 8 Oct.

The project is being completed in collaboration with NR processor PT Hok Tong, owned by Halcyon Agri Corp.

SRI said the first phase had improved farmers’ productivity and earnings. The second phase will continue in Jambi, Sumatra, while extending the programme to Rantau Prapat in North Sumatra.

The group aims to support approximately 1,740 farms each year, with the target increasing annually through April 2029.

SRI has also established an SNR Subcommittee to coordinate its sustainable natural rubber procurement activities.

The subcommittee, it said, has categorised the group’s measures using the principles of the “action framework (AR3T)” proposed by the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN).

The AR3T framework, SRI explained, “systematically categorises the actions taken by businesses to address the impact of their business activities on nature from the perspectives of avoidance, reduction, restoration/regeneration, and transformation.”