JAKARTA - PTPN IV PalmCo supports women's economic independence in plantation centers through training on innovation of palm derivative products, especially the utilization of waste into economically valuable products.
The activities initiated by the Association of Palm Oil Farmers of the People's Core Company (Aspekpir) and partnering with the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) and the Plantation Office were attended by hundreds of participants, with a majority of women from the Kampar Regency area.
PTPN IV Regional III Head Bambang Budi Santoso said that strengthening the role of women was one of the keys to improving the welfare of palm oil farmers.
"We all agree that oil palm is a tree of life. Every inch of the oil palm plant has a value that can be utilized. Including today, through this activity, we want to encourage women to have additional skills, so that they are able to create products with a selling value from oil palm, even from its waste," said Bambang, in a written statement, Monday, April 6.
He explained that the great potential of palm oil must continue to be explored to be developed into various derivative products, ranging from food to handicrafts. In the training, participants are equipped with the ability to process palm fronds into snack sticks, produce palm oil-based wind oil, to process palm stick waste into handicrafts that have the potential to penetrate the export market.
"This proves that there is no part of palm oil that is not useful. Everything can be processed into a new source of income for the community," he said.
According to Bambang, when women have skills and access to business opportunities, the economic resilience of the family will be stronger. "We believe that when women are empowered, the family will be more prosperous and the regional economy will also grow," he continued.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Riau Provincial DPD I Aspekpir, Sutoyo, said that this program is part of the organization's real efforts to strengthen the capacity of farmers, not only in terms of cultivation, but also in terms of downstream.
"Until now, farmers have focused on production, but in the future we encourage them to be able to develop derivative products. Women have a big role here, because they are patient and creative in processing products," he said.
He added that this activity was also a first step in opening new business opportunities based on households that could increase the income of farmer families.
Head of the Community Cooperation and UMKM Division of the BPDP Ministry of Finance, Linda Sitanandra, also expressed full support for palm oil community empowerment activities, especially those targeting women.
"We see programs like this as very strategic, because they not only increase human resource capacity, but also create added value from palm oil commodities. This is in line with our efforts to encourage the strengthening of the downstream sector," said Linda Sitanandra.
Similarly, Head of the Kampar Regency Plantation, Livestock and Animal Health Office, Marahalim, assessed that the training had a positive impact on the community, especially in opening new economic opportunities.
"We really appreciate this activity, because it is able to empower the community, especially women. In the future, we hope that these products can continue to be developed to have a wider market," he said.
Through this good collaboration, it is hoped that palm oil waste processing will not only be an environmental solution, but also a source of new economic independence for women in plantation areas.
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