Women's Participation Key to Sustainable Palm Oil Industry, Says BPDP

The Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) has stated that women’s participation and contribution will help determine the sustainability of the palm oil industry in the future. BPDP President Director Eddy Abdurrachman stated that the sustainability of the palm oil industry is not solely determined by technological innovation and sound environmental management practices. “But it is also determined by the creation of equal opportunities for women and men to participate, contribute, and benefit from the development of the sector,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday. Therefore, he continued, BPDP supports the launch of the Gender Mainstreaming Guideline (PUG) in the Palm Oil Sector as a commitment to encouraging the development of a palm oil industry that is not only sustainable, but also more inclusive, equitable, and beneficial for all levels of society. Eddy stated that the launch of the guideline is a form of BPDP’s support for the government’s efforts to mainstream gender in the palm oil sector. He expressed hope that the guideline can serve as a reference for stakeholders in formulating more inclusive policies and programmes, so that the development of the palm oil industry can provide broader benefits to the community. The Gender Mainstreaming Guideline in the Palm Oil Sector was developed as a practical guide for the government, businesses, associations, universities, and various stakeholders to integrate a gender perspective into the entire palm oil industry value chain.