InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - Having career in palm oil plantations where the male dominates would not be easy thing for female. But Siti Zuwairiah proved that a female can be planter and even got achievement.

"When I lead my team, I never consider about gender because everything has something to do with the work commitment and self - development. That is a planter should do and I am one of them,” Siti Zuwairiah Abdullah, a Malaysian planter, said.

Now she is in charge to develop a 1.800 hectare - palm oil plantation in Sime Darby Berhad (Estate Ladang Tampin Tinggi). Her long journey of carrer started in 2005 when she wanted to get higher education (in university).

Siti had not will to be a planter but she wanted to be a lawyer in Malaysia, just like others that wanted to be teachers, doctors, or other good profession. But for she did not qualify the academic terms and conditions, her idea was never be realized. “I was so sad,” she said.

But everything was up-down. Siti eventually learnt agriculture in the University of Putra Malaysia (UPM). At the time, scholarship was offered by the biggest palm oil company in Malaysia, Guthrie, which now becomes Sime Darby Plantation.

"After having consideration, I chose agriculture in the University of Putra Malaysia (UPM)," she said.

Of 17 students that got scholarship program, there were only four females. Siti Zuwairiah that got Golden Hope Academy award, was one of them. When having the program, she got theories and practices in palm oil plantations of the company in person.

Her father did not agree with what Siti chose to work in plantation sector. Her father himself worked as harvester in Felda – a palm oil plantation company. Her mother was fertilizer applicator in the same company.

“My father worried because working in plantation sectors was dominated by men,” she said. Her mother also suggested Siti to get better jobs than hers.

Her 2005 – job experiences started by having the first planter recruit by Golden Hope Berhad. In 2007, Golden Hope Berhad, Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad, and Sime Darby Berhad were joint. Since 2008, Siti has started her career as female planters. In 2019 she was officially inaugurated as the first plantation manager by Sime Darby Plantation Berhad. (T2)

for more, please read Majalah InfoSAWIT, July 2024