InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - Strengthening human resources (HR) in the palm oil sector is a crucial step in supporting the development of environmentally and socially sustainable palm oil plantations, while simultaneously driving economic growth in local communities.
Nugroho Kristono, Director of the Citra Widya Edukasi Palm Oil Polytechnic (Poltek Kelapa Sawit CWE), emphasized the importance of developing human resources in the palm oil sector, noting that smallholder plantations account for approximately 5 million hectares of the total 16.3 million hectares of palm oil land in Indonesia. "The demand for skilled and knowledgeable human resources in this industry is significant," he stated.
To date, Poltek Kelapa Sawit CWE has enrolled 970 students, 98% of whom are children of farmers from various regions, ranging from Aceh to Papua. Since its establishment in 2016, Poltek Kelapa Sawit CWE has been committed to educating the next generation of palm oil farmers to equip them with the necessary skills for the industry.
"This educational program focuses not only on theory but also on practical applications relevant to industry needs," Nugroho explained during a discussion at the FGD SAWIT BERKELANJUTAN VOL 16, titled “Sustainable Palm Oil Plantations Growing Rural Economy,” held by InfoSAWIT media with support from BPDPKS in early November 2024 in Jakarta.
He also highlighted that Poltek Kelapa Sawit CWE plays a role in preparing human resources through training programs for vocational school students and teachers. "Initially, we collaborated with three other campuses to run this program, and now there are 23 campuses involved in palm oil HR development," he said.
The program not only includes formal education but also technical training that helps farmers improve productivity and efficiency in managing palm oil plantations. Nugroho stressed that collaboration with relevant stakeholders is essential to achieving these goals.
Despite many graduates from Poltek Kelapa Sawit CWE successfully pursuing careers in various companies, Nugroho revealed challenges in graduate absorption. "Many graduates still work outside the palm oil sector and do not return to develop their family plantations," he said.
He also noted that this issue is related to the lack of government attention to the development of palm oil human resources. "We hope the government will focus more on this issue so that our graduates can contribute more significantly to the palm oil industry," he added.
