InfoSAWIT, SAMARINDA – The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) once again shows its commitment to empowering women in the palm oil sector. Collaborating with Solidaridad, a Dutch non-governmental organization experienced in farmer and farm worker assistance, GAPKI launched the PowerRRR Project, an initiative focused on increasing women's capacity in the palm oil ecosystem.
The program officially started through a Kick-off Meeting on October 23, 2025, in Samarinda, East Kalimantan. The PowerRRR Project targets 3,500 women—both smallholder farmers and farm workers—to receive training and mentoring until the end of 2026. As the initial stage, the program will be implemented in Kutai Timur Regency and Paser Regency.
Various trainings will be provided, ranging from Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), financial literacy, K3 (Occupational Safety and Health) awareness, to childcare. This holistic approach is expected to improve the quality of life of palm oil women and their families, while strengthening the socio-economic foundation in rural areas.
“Women are an important pillar in Indonesia's palm oil industry. They play roles from executive to field levels, from companies to smallholder plantations,” said GAPKI Human Resources Development Chairperson, Sumarjono Saragih, in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT, Friday (24/10/2025).
Furthermore, he said that empowering women means strengthening the sustainability of the national palm oil industry.
This initiative also received direct support from the Deputy Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Veronica Tan, who previously received an audience with GAPKI and Solidaridad on October 2, 2025, in Jakarta. Not only the government, labor union networks like JAPBUSI and JAGA SAWITAN are also involved in this project, making it a strategic collaboration between entrepreneurs, workers, and civil society organizations.
More than just meeting sustainability standards and legal compliance, this step shows the palm oil industry's role in supporting the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision and aligning with the Prabowo–Gibran government's Eight Commitments agenda, namely building welfare from the village.
With more empowered palm oil women, respected in their rights, and protected in their roles, the palm oil industry continues to prove itself as a sector that is not only productive but also inclusive and socially just. (T2)
