PT Sari Lembah Subur (SLS), a subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk, in collaboration with the Siak Pelalawan Landscape Program (SPLP), organized a two-day farmer capacity-building training titled “Landscape Collaboration: SPLP and Astra Agro Strengthen Farmer Resilience Against Forest and Land Fires.” The event took place on June 11-12, 2025, at two different locations and involved farmers from five sub-districts in Pelalawan Regency.
The purpose of this training was to enhance farmers’ knowledge and skills in addressing and preventing forest and land fires (karhutla), which remain a significant threat in the region.
Synergy for Sustainable Palm Oil Without Burning
Jhon Roy Sirait, the SPLP coordinator for the Pelalawan region, expressed his appreciation for Astra Agro’s involvement through PT SLS in this training. He emphasized the importance of such programs in promoting sustainable, fire-free palm oil farming practices.
“Participants gained many new insights, particularly regarding strategies for preventing and tackling forest and land fires. We hope this knowledge can be shared within each farmer group,” he stated.
Jhon also highlighted that this collaboration is a meaningful step towards environmentally friendly palm oil cultivation, aligning with sustainable landscape principles.
Company’s Commitment to the Environment
The training included presentations from Ismail Kadir, Head of Administration at PT SLS; Tofan Hidayat, Sustainability Assistant; Heri Paryono, OGR Inspector; and Sony Noer Afzan, Sustainability PIC. The event also featured the SPLP mentoring team and numerous farmers from the districts of Kerumutan, Ukui, Pangkalan Lesung, Pangkalan Kuras, and Langgam.
Ismail Kadir remarked that this training represents a concrete manifestation of the private sector’s commitment to engaging in environmental sustainability efforts.
“PT SLS is honored to contribute to preventing forest and land fires. This initiative is part of our responsibility to support sustainable palm oil production and ensure a safe environment,” declared Ismail.
Materials and Simulations for Forest Fire Prevention
Participants received training materials developed by the Sustainability team at PT SLS and facilitators from SPLP. These covered community-based fire prevention strategies, non-burning cultivation techniques, and real-life simulations of forest and land fire management in the field.
“Transforming to environmentally friendly cultivation practices must start with farmers, as they are on the front lines. This training is the first step toward better landscape management,” Ismail added.
This collaborative initiative is expected to serve as a model for other regions, strengthening the role of farmers and local communities in preventing fires and maintaining sustainable landscapes, as reported by Antaranews.
Source: Hallo Riau
Disclaimer
This article may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not have been pre-authorized by the copyright owner. This material is made available for the purpose of giving information and knowledge. The material contained on the Astra Agro website distributed without profit. If you are interested in using copyrighted material from this material for any reason that goes beyond ‘fair use’, you must first obtain permission from the original source
