Kristina Rampang: A Mother, A Farmer, A Community leader

In the quiet village of Bobo in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, where cocoa trees stretch across the landscape, Kristina Rampang begins each day tending to her family before heading to her cocoa farm. She started growing cocoa in 2008 with limited knowledge and low yields. Today, she is a successful farmer and community leader, and her story reflects the growing role of women in rural agriculture.

Over time, Kristina – who initially relied more on instinct than on formal techniques – continuously built her capacities through trainings provided through the collaboration between GIZ and JB Cocoa. These trainings covered areas ranging from nursery management and pruning to grafting and fermentation. The new skills not only improved her farm productivity but also strengthened her confidence.

Kristina went on to help form a farmer group in her village and was elected chairwoman, a position rarely held by women. Under her leadership, the group embraced gotong royong, a traditional practice of collective work for the benefit of all. This shared labour made demanding tasks easier, strengthened trust among members, and improved access to subsidies and better farming practices.

Beyond agricultural techniques, Kristina also teaches women how to manage household finances. “If women understand finances, the whole family becomes stronger,” she says. In her own household, income from cocoa and shade trees such as durian has supported her three children through higher education. “Everything – their education, their future – comes from cocoa,” she reflects proudly.

“Women play a big role,” she adds. “In the homes, in the farms, and in shaping the future.”

For Kristina, cocoa farming is more than a livelihood; it is a platform for women’s leadership. Her story is a reminder that when women farmers gain knowledge, confidence, and recognition, entire communities grow stronger.