Apkasindo: BPDP as the locomotive for developing national palm oil human resources
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Palm Oil Farmers Association (Apkasindo) believes that the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) is capable of serving as the locomotive for developing national palm oil human resources through various scholarship and training programmes for farmers.
According to the General Chairman of the Apkasindo Central Executive Board, Gulat ME Manurung, BPDP has a strategic role in improving the quality of human resources in the national palm oil sector.
Various programmes developed, whether in the form of palm oil scholarships or training for farmers, have made positive contributions to the advancement of the palm oil industry.
“I see that one of the key words for the success of Indonesian palm oil to date is the support from BPDP, especially in the human resources sector,” he said in Jakarta on Thursday.
BPDP’s programmes focused on human resource development, he continued, are increasingly targeted and on point, manifested through training and technical education as well as support for research and the provision of scholarships in the palm oil field.
Nevertheless, he hopes that BPDP will continue to evaluate and refine its programmes to enhance effectiveness and tangible impacts on the industry.
The evaluation and improvement steps taken so far, he added, have strengthened BPDP’s position as the main locomotive in developing national palm oil human resources.
Regarding the palm oil farmer training programme, Gulat stated in his remarks that it is important to enhance skills, knowledge, and professionalism, thereby realising a national palm oil industry that is increasingly productive and sustainable.
“I see that the evaluation and improvement that have been quite significant have made BPDP the locomotive for Indonesian palm oil human resources. Palm oil human resources must be at the forefront, at least on par with the development of plantation palm oil technology dynamics. Therefore, the universities that become partners for palm oil human resources must be of quality,” he said.
Based on BPDP data, as many as 29,263 training participants and 13,265 education or scholarship programme participants have joined the palm oil human resource development programme up to 2025.
Of the total scholarship recipients, 3,910 students have graduated from various universities collaborating with BPDP.
The palm oil human resource development programme involves 42 universities with a total of 900 training classes conducted in various palm oil plantation centre areas. The programme reaches 21 provinces in Indonesia that are the main palm oil plantation regions.
“This is extraordinary. I think this is also our way to adjust to the needs of palm oil stakeholders regarding human resources. So, with 13,265 people, I think this is already on target for the palm oil funds,” said Gulat Manurung.