PALMOILMAGAZINE, MANGGARAI BARAT — The Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) continues its efforts to improve human resource quality in Indonesia’s palm oil sector, this time by promoting its Palm Oil Scholarship Program and Gender Mainstreaming Initiative (PUG). The event took place at the Setda Hall, Manggarai Barat Regent’s Office, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Tuesday (October 28, 2025).
Around 150 students from palm oil workers’ families attended the event, along with teachers representing 15 schools in Manggarai Barat and 25 schools in Manggarai Timur. The goal was to expand awareness of BPDP’s scholarship program, which provides higher education opportunities for the children of palm oil workers across Indonesia.
Deputy Regent of Manggarai Barat, dr. Yulianus Weng, M.Kes, expressed his appreciation for BPDP’s initiative in empowering NTT’s young generation through education.
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“In 2023, around 7,000 people from Manggarai Barat were employed in the palm oil sector, and this number continues to rise through 2025,” Yulianus said in a statement to Palmoilmagazine.com on Thursday (November 6, 2025). “However, educational challenges remain — from limited access and low literacy to economic hardship. BPDP’s Palm Oil Scholarship is a breakthrough that opens pathways for NTT’s youth to pursue higher education and contribute to regional development.”
Meanwhile, Zaid Burhan Ibrahim, Acting Director of Legal and Cooperation at BPDP, noted that 15–20% of Indonesia’s palm oil harvesting workforce comes from NTT. He highlighted the strong work ethic and resilience of NTT communities, emphasizing that this potential must now evolve beyond labor into leadership and innovation.
“It’s time for NTT to be recognized not only as a source of palm oil labor, but also as a hub for future leaders and innovators in the industry,” said Zaid. “The Palm Oil Scholarship Program is our concrete step to ensure every child — regardless of background — has the same opportunity to pursue higher education with full BPDP support.”
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The BPDP scholarship provides comprehensive assistance, covering tuition, transportation, books, and living expenses. By 2025, the program has supported over 9,000 students nationwide, including 4,000 new recipients this year — a significant increase from previous years.
Beyond education access, BPDP also used this event to emphasize its commitment to Gender Mainstreaming (PUG), ensuring equal opportunities for both men and women in education and career advancement within the plantation sector.
“We need teachers to guide and inspire students to dream big and seize opportunities,” Zaid added. “Gender equality means every child — male or female — deserves the same chance to grow and succeed.”
The event also featured interactive sessions such as the Kahoot educational quiz, which engaged participants in a fun and dynamic way.
Through initiatives like this, BPDP reaffirms its mission to extend the Palm Oil Scholarship Program to remote regions like NTT — nurturing a new generation of skilled, competitive, and socially aware professionals ready to shape a more sustainable and inclusive future for Indonesia’s palm oil industry. (P2)
