Sierra Leone’s First RSPO Certified Smallholders Embrace Data-Driven Technology Towards EUDR Compliance

Through a partnership with global agri-tech company Koltiva, the Ngoyaï Gbaayegie smallholder group in Sierra Leone is embracing innovation to improve transparency and traceability of their yields towards EUDR compliance, to facilitate access to the European market.

By: Natalia Diaz

The wild and verdant natural beauty of Sierra Leone leaves a lasting impression.

It has been three years since we last visited the village of Damabu in Sierra Leone’s Eastern Province. I still remember the abundant towering trees of “banga” – oil palm – the community’s lifeblood. Damabu comprises one of several communities of oil palm smallholders, who in 2021 collectively achieved a big milestone for the African region. 

These smallholders, collectively known as the Ngoyaï Gbaayegie Group, made history as the first independent smallholder group in Sierra Leone, and in Africa, to receive RSPO Certification. The group comprises 4,725 certified farmers covering 6,347  hectares. 

Within the production zone of Goldtree Sierra Leone Ltd, managed by parent company Planting Naturals, Ngoyaï Gbaayegie remains the single largest certified independent smallholder group across all regions in terms of number of smallholder farmers. Since certification, they had reported up to a fivefold increase in Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) yields, by adopting sustainable best management practices (BMP) that led to increased profit and improved livelihoods for the smallholder communities. 

In the nearby Talia community, we checked in again on Semgbe Fatorma, a smallholder whom we first met in 2023. He made a name for himself for his orderly plots and neatly pruned palm trees. 

“Even after 2023, my yields have continued to improve, and I’m proud to see the benefits of RSPO Certification reflected in my farm and my income,” Semgbe shared. “Other smallholders in the Talia community have also reported that their yields of FFB have gone up after applying the BMP training and improved practices. With higher yields, we are earning greater profits, especially since our FFB are bought at premium prices under RSPO Certification. This has made a real difference in our livelihoods and encouraged more of us to keep our farms well managed.”

Koltiva partnership

Today, the Ngoyaï Gbaayegie group continues to move the needle and demonstrate what’s possible for small farmers – by embracing digital technology that helps meet the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

Through a partnership launched in 2025 with Koltiva, a global agri-tech company, the group uses data-driven systems to ensure transparency and support compliance with the EUDR legislation. Without such verification and traceability, access to the lucrative EU market would remain out of reach.

Koltiva’s innovation delivers real, measurable impact. Field agents use an application-based survey to collect farm-level data directly from producers. This system replaces piles of handwritten records, reducing human error, thus making it easier to trace FFB back to its origin. The digital records are then shared among farmers, Internal Control System (ICS) officers, and buyers, ensuring accuracy, accountability – and preparedness for EUDR requirements.

“The primary incentive for farmers to adopt this technology is the ability to maintain their market access and continue supplying to the mill, thus ensuring that their livelihood is maintained and not reduced or limited by inability to comply with new regulations, especially since the company deals heavily with export to the European market,” explains Marvellous Ogala, Sustainability Manager at Planting Naturals, responsible for all certification processes and sustainability initiatives across Sierra Leone’s operations. 

AgDevCO, a specialised investor in African agrobusiness,  has provided financial and technical assistance to implement a Best Management Practices (BMP) pilot project, aiming to improve farmer productivity. 

Ogala notes that the technology’s success is rooted in practicality. ICS officers and FFB buyers use mobile devices to record data on behalf of farmers at the time of purchase. For communities once distant from digital systems, this simple adaptation bridges the gap between rural livelihoods and global compliance.

For communities once distant from digital systems, this simple adaptation bridges the gap between rural livelihoods and global compliance.

In the Zone: decentralised approach, shared leadership

Herein lies a monumental challenge: how do you manage 7,000 farmers scattered across different villages in rural Sierra Leone? The answer lies in meticulous organisation and shared leadership.

Each ICS officer oversees around 200 farmers, dividing the entire group into manageable segments. Recently, the group introduced a five-zone structure, each with its own Zonal Coordinator in charge of supervising several ICS officers. At the village level, elected representatives ensure every community has a voice.

This decentralised approach achieves a two-pronged objective: strengthening communication, and empowering farmers to take ownership of sustainability compliance. 

To support livelihoods further, the group has introduced a Village Service and Loan Scheme, helping its members access low-interest financing for farm inputs or emergencies. This system reduces dependency on predatory lending and reinforces the cooperative’s social sustainability.

A model for Africa’s smallholders

Anchoring every decision is a firm belief in scalability and sustainability. “Group work makes it easier for farmers to manage their operations,” adds Ogala. “Our strategy includes organising farmers into groups for collaborative farm maintenance and Best Management Practice activities, which addresses the major concern of individual farmers working alone on their plots.”

From bountiful yields to assiduous digital recordkeeping, the group is proving that smallholders can thrive within global sustainability frameworks without losing their local identity. Beyond technology, Ngoyaï Gbaayegie’s unfolding story reflects a culture of inclusion leading to collective success. 

About the author: Natalia Diaz is the Editor of the RSPO Communications team. To get in touch, email: [email protected].