InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The Indonesian Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) plans a significant expansion of its oil palm human resource development program in 2026, including an increase in scholarship quotas for new university students.
Referring to a presentation by BPDP Head of Planning and Services Division Nugroho Adi Wibowo, delivered during a discussion attended by InfoSAWIT in early March 2026 in Jakarta, BPDP targets 5,000 new scholarship recipients under the oil palm human resource development program this year.
In addition, BPDP is targeting 15,000 training participants, consisting of Smallholders and industry stakeholders, as part of efforts to strengthen human resource capacity in the strategic palm oil sector.
“The target for oil palm plantation human resource development participants in 2026 reaches 28,127 people, consisting of new scholarship recipients and training participants,” Nugroho explained during the presentation.
Palm Oil HR Development Program Continues to Grow
Over the past several years, BPDP’s human resource development initiatives have shown a significant increase in the number of beneficiaries.
Based on BPDP data as of December 31, 2025, a total of 29,263 training participants and 13,265 education or scholarship participants had taken part in the oil palm HR development program.
Of the scholarship recipients, 3,910 students have graduated from various universities partnering with BPDP.
The program currently involves 42 universities, with 900 training classes conducted across key oil palm plantation regions.
In addition, the oil palm HR development program has reached 21 provinces in Indonesia, covering major oil palm producing areas.
Nugroho said the palm oil scholarship program is a key strategy to develop a new generation of professionals in the oil palm sector, covering areas such as cultivation, processing, and industry management.
Through this initiative, students from oil palm Smallholder families as well as the general public have the opportunity to pursue higher education at universities offering programs related to the palm oil industry.
Beyond formal education, BPDP also conducts extension programs, mentoring, and technical training for Smallholders to improve plantation productivity and capacity.
With higher scholarship quotas and expanded training targets in 2026, BPDP hopes the HR development program will further strengthen the competitiveness of Indonesia’s palm oil industry while supporting the long-term sustainability of the sector. (T2)
