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MEULABOH – Kuta Padang Village, Bubon District, West Aceh, has a farmer group that can be a pilot and pioneer in utilizing unproductive peatlands to be more productive. This farmer group is called the Sustainable Peat Pineapple Farmer Group (KT-NGL).
The head of the KT-NGL group, Edi Saputra, admitted that he was confused about managing the peatland owned by Kuta Padang village, so that it could become a business opportunity, at least for villagers who were unemployed.
“Several hectares have been entrusted and allowed to be managed by Kuta Padang Village officials, that was the beginning of the formation of this farmer group, but there is no knowledge, so we don’t know how to manage the land and the farmer group,” said Edi.
Edi said, that he had the opportunity to discuss with the West Aceh Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management Working Team (TK-PPEG), regarding the management plan. They suggested planting pineapple, given the potential of the land.
Finally, the farmer group self-sufficiently cultivated the land with simple technology to weed and irrigate the land. KT-NGL has successfully planted 1 hectare of land with pineapple plants. “There are still 2 more hectares that have not been planted, due to limited capital,” said Edi.
As a company located around the village, PT Karya Tanah Subur (KTS), a subsidiary of Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (Astra Agro) operating in West Aceh, took part in fostering the NGL Farmer Group. The initial activity carried out by PT KTS was to promote the socialization of the sustainable use of peatlands.
“We have long monitored the peatland belonging to Kuta Padang Village, it needs to be managed properly. The good news is that a farmer group has been formed, previously there was no name because we didn’t know what to manage,” said Ashar Khoirurozi, CSR Assistant of PT KTS.
According to Ashar, it is important to educate and socialize the people of Kuta Padang Village about the use and good management of peatlands. Such include prohibiting land clearing by burning, keeping the water table moist, and using the right irrigation system.
PT KTS also provided 1000 pineapple seedlings to be planted in the unplanted land area, along with additional education and socialization related to agriculture (17/11).
PT KTS Community Development Officer, Azra Husaini revealed that PT KTS’s sustainability plan is to continue fostering KT-NGL, so this pineapple farming business is not just seasonal and stops.
“Later, when entering harvest age, the farmer group will be coached to make processed pineapple products, so that the selling value of this pineapple farming business can be targeted from upstream to downstream,” Azra said.
In addition, several more hectares of land that cannot be planted with pineapples will be fostered by PT KTS to create an intercropping system that can be used to grow other crops such as eggplant, cucumber, and corn.
“We don’t need to see how much profit we will get later, if we make a profit, we will consider it a bonus, what is important is how we can manage this potential peatland well, while empowering the community to be more productive,” he explained.
The company, which is engaged in oil palm plantations, through its social responsibility (CSR) in the economic pillar, is committed to supporting the development of entrepreneurial activities in accordance with the needs and potential of the region and existing local wisdom.
This program includes training, mentoring, institutional strengthening, infrastructure assistance, and business capital assistance as the company’s contribution to developing economic potential around the operational area.
source : harian rakyat aceh
