Introducing the Secrets of Chocolate: BPDP Calls on the Youth to Embrace Plantation Commodities

Discussing everything from Ramadan to geopolitical dynamics, the BPDP (Badan Pengelola Dana Perkebunan) has taken a strategic step to build literacy about the plantation sector from an early age. Through an educational activity titled ‘Kakao dan Rahasia Cokelat’ (Cocoa and the Secrets of Chocolate), BPDP introduced the potential of national commodities to around 60 pupils from primary to secondary school at the BPDP Ballroom in Jakarta, on Thursday 5 March 2026. The participants were from Rumah Tahfidz An Nur, Cinere, Depok, as well as children living in the Gambir area of Central Jakarta. BPDP Legal and Cooperation Director Pangihutan Siagian stressed that the agency’s role is not limited to managing funds but also involves investing in public knowledge development. He said educational initiatives form a crucial foundation for Indonesia’s plantation sector’s future. ‘Strategically, activities like this are important for BPDP; we do not merely manage plantation funds, but also invest in building knowledge and public literacy. Early education is a preventive step toward creating a positive, fact-based, sustainability-oriented perception,’ Pangihutan said in his remarks. Education Through Storytelling and Visuals To ensure the message is conveyed effectively, BPDP invited Kak Rona Mentari, founder of Rumah Dongeng Anak. Through storytelling, children are invited to explore the long journey of a single cocoa bean from a farmer’s plantation to its transformation into the chocolate they consume daily. This approach aims to provide a deep understanding of cocoa as a strategic commodity that supports farmers’ welfare and contributes to the national economy. Following the storytelling segment, participants’ enthusiasm was assessed through an interactive quiz about the benefits of cocoa and its processing. Launching a Bilingual Learning Media In addition to the face-to-face activities, BPDP also introduced a new learning media: a children’s educational comic. The comic covers Indonesia’s three main plantation commodities—palm oil, coconut, and cocoa. Written in simple language with engaging illustrations, the comic is presented in a bilingual format (two languages). This is expected to help children understand the material more easily and serve as an inclusive educational reference for a wide audience. Through these activities, BPDP hopes to strengthen public literacy about the plantation sector. By building a positive understanding from school age, the younger generation is expected to view the plantation sector as a vital pillar of the economy capable of creating jobs and bringing prestige to Indonesia on the global stage.