This paper explores the continuing labour market dilemmas resulting from the expansion of upper secondary and higher education in Indonesia. The situation is more acute in the poorer provinces such as East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) with their limited demand for high school graduates. The findings presented here are based on a sample of 800 high school students in the West Timor region of NTT. The authors point to the problems inherent in the Indonesian government's goal of nine years' compulsory education by the year 2004, and suggest policy measures to avoid the wastage of talent in provinces such as East Nusa Tenggara.

Abstract. The estimation of crop water requirement is an important part of oil palm plantation because fruit yield of oil palm can be affected by water stress. Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of oil palm using Tenera variety at 7-12 months old was determined. Soil texture was sandy loam with 73.8 % sand, 10.8 % silt, 15.77 % clay and 1.41 % organic matter. The results showed that the oil palm getting older decreased significantly in bulk density, particle density and porosity of soil caused the root of oil palm enlarged (19.42 g to 53.37 g). This was indicated by increased the dry root weight. On the other hand, the value of evapotranspiration and crop coefficient increased significantly, that was 1.85 to 2.00 mm/day and 0.8 to 0.87 respectively.

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A mathematical model for effective porosity, effective force and permeability was derived using the experimental results. A universal compression machine was used to press oil of jatropha seeds at maximum force 100 kN, pressing vessel diameter 60 mm, initial pressing height 60 mm with different compression speeds ranging from 1 to 50 mm.min−1. The analysis of variance showed significant effects of compression speed on oil yield, oil point deformation, effective porosity and time of oil flow (P < 0.05), while the compression speed effect was not significant on the maximum deformation, oil point force, effective force, flow rate of oil and permeability (P > 0.05). Oil yield decreased significantly with increasing speed hence lower driving effective force. In addition, lower effective porosity required higher effective force to drive oil flow due to lower permeability and flow rate of jatropha seeds oil. Equilibrium force between effective force and oil point force at force 100 kN was determined to be 50 kN with corresponding compression speed approximately 42.74 mm.min−1. This knowledge is important in the industrial technology of oil processing where higher pressure is needed to achieve maximum leakage of oil.

Deficit irrigation is one of the keys in overcoming the problem of weather variability and limited water resources. Farmers can reduce the amount of irrigation water use without affecting too much on the productivity of rice plants by using deficit irrigation. The level of deviation of rice production increases when the water level changes between the ranges of 0-2.5 cm. The tendency to decrease from the level of deviation of agricultural production is seen when the water level increases in the range of 2.5-10 cm. At a water level of 12.5 cm there is a considerable increase in deviation. However, there was a significant decrease in the level of deviation of rice production when the water level was at 15 cm. Based on this, it can be concluded that the risk management of rice production will be better when the water level is above 2.5 cm and below 15 cm. The results of this study not only can be used for the development of risk-based farmers’ decision models but can also be used as input for the development of government policies in resource sharing and development of agricultural insurance