Oil palm cultivation plays a critical role in rural livelihoods in Indonesia, yet previous research has often overlooked systematic institutional differences among smallholders. This study aims to analyze disparities in assets, strategies, and livelihood outcomes among three oil palm smallholder typologies—ex-Perkebunan Inti Rakyat (PIR) transmigrant smallholders who received land through government transmigration programs, independent smallholders who cultivate oil palm without formal partnerships, and plasma smallholders operating under corporate partnership schemes—in Central Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi. A descriptive quantitative approach based on the sustainable livelihoods framework was employed, using chi-square analysis of data collected from 90 respondents through structured interviews and field observations. The results show that ex-PIR smallholders possess higher physical, financial, and social capital and achieve better income and welfare outcomes compared to independent and plasma smallholders. Independent smallholders exhibit resilience through diversified livelihood strategies, whereas plasma smallholders face asset limitations and structural dependency on partner companies, increasing their economic vulnerability. The study concludes that differentiated policy approaches are necessary to enhance the resilience of each group, including improving capital access, promoting income diversification, and strengthening institutions for plasma smallholders. Future research should expand geographical scope and explore factors such as technology adoption, gender dynamics, and intergenerational knowledge transfer to deepen understanding of sustainable smallholder livelihoods in tropical plantation contexts.

Based on data from BPS-Statistics of West Sulawesi Province, vast oil palm plantations in West Sulawesi province continued to increase. This increase in the area of oil palm plantations had led to the conversion of land functions from cocoa plantations, rice fields, ponds and forests to oil palm plantations. This study This study aimed to explore the various impacts of land conversion into oil palm plantations. This study used secondary data and descriptive methods to describe the impacts that occurred when the land conversion was carried out. The results of this study indicated the occurrence of various impacts, for example, reduced rice farmers and reduced food agricultural land, changes from polyculture plantations to palm oil monocultures, changes in regional hydrological conditions and agrarian disputes.