The Role of Mandailing Women in Smallholder Oil Palm Plantations in Ranto Baek District Mandailing Regency

Abstract

This study examined the role of women in smallholder oil palm plantations in Indonesia by looking at the impact and potential of social entrepreneurship in North Sumatra. The research used a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. In the initial stage, surveys in Ranto Baek District, Mandailing Regency. Then, a focus group discussion (FGD) was done, followed by the use of secondary data. This research was carried out in Ranto Baek District, Mandailing Natal Regency. Respondents were 54 Mandailing housewives owning smallholder oil palm plantations in three locations. Research informants were female entrepreneurs of smallholder oil palm plantations, while key informants are related stakeholders. The gender analysis technique was employed to explore in-depth data and find out the role of women in smallholder oil palm plantations in North Sumatra. The analysis was started by identifying the impact of community oil palm development on the role of women in productive, reproductive, and social activities in three ethnic (socio-cultural) groups. It was continued by exploring the potential for developing women^s cooperation patterns in developing creative business and social entrepreneurship in Mandailing ethnic. After that, formulating a gender-based social entrepreneurship institutional model in the development of smallholder oil palm plantations was done.