Palu, Indonesia — Coconuts, long considered an everyday household ingredient, are now being transformed into new economic opportunities for women. A community empowerment initiative led by Sitti Rahmawati from Tadulako University introduced traditional Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) production to women at Ummul Khaerat Islamic Boarding School in Palu, Central Sulawesi.
Published in the Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Formosa (JPMF) in 2026, the program highlights how simple VCO production skills can strengthen family income while promoting health awareness.
Central Sulawesi is one of Indonesia’s major coconut-producing regions, yet much of its potential remains underutilized. VCO offers higher economic value than regular coconut oil, longer shelf life, and broader health applications.
The training involved 25 female students and focused on both technical production and business development, including cost analysis and marketing strategies.
Participants learned how to produce VCO using simple household tools by extracting coconut milk, fermenting it, and separating pure oil.
According to the study, 15 coconuts can produce around five bottles of VCO, making it a practical small-scale business model.
The program found strong enthusiasm among participants, who recognized VCO’s potential as a product for health, cosmetics, and food supplements.
Beyond economic benefits, VCO was introduced as a natural product with antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Rahmawati emphasized that empowering women through coconut-based microbusinesses can help reduce unemployment and poverty while promoting local resource utilization.
The study also highlights the broader role of Islamic boarding schools as centers for economic empowerment, especially for young women.
As demand for natural and organic products continues to rise, VCO-based businesses could become an important part of rural economic development in Indonesia.
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