Photo : The sago grater was presented to a farming community in Subur (Sub)village
BOVEN DIGOEL – Recognizing the importance of empowerment for communities, PT Berkat Cipta Abadi (BCA) made yet another donation that helps isolated Papuans stand on their own. The company brought a sago grating machine Tuesday (9/19) for a farmer group in Subur (Sub)village in Subur District, Boven Digoel.
This was the second grater given to a sago farming group after Aiwat (Sub)village. With this tool, locals are expected to cut production time and produce more sago flour, which they sell to make ends meet.
“I want to give my biggest thanks to the company. Hopefully, I will be able to sell out my products now,” said farmer Albertina Burok.
Sago farming communities in Subur and Aiwat receive regular training from the company. A day prior to the donation handover, members of the Subur group met with TSE Group’s PR general manager Park Jibae and deputy general manager Daniel Sim Ayomi at TSE’s head office.
Park mentioned how teamwork is vital for improving production quantities and helping farmers boost family finances and productivity. Trends over the years predict sago and its derivative products will get more popular in global markets, and this outlook is backed up by a statement from the Agriculture Ministry, which affirms Indonesian sago’s capabilities of solving global food crises.
To help the farmer groups maintain food security, the company revealed some crop cultivation knowledge. At the nursery behind TSE’s PR office, farmers were taught how to make organic pesticides using natural, everyday materials and apply them to plants. Produce sprayed by this type of pesticide are safe for consumption (being free of synthetic chemicals) and ensure ecosystem sustainability.
Photo : Members of the farmer group meet with company management in TSE’s PR office
Photo : BCA officers teach how to make organic pesticides and apply them to plants
Back to the meeting, Park and Ayomi shared with the guests their completed and upcoming programs that cater to health and economic issues. Through a video-viewing session, the officials showed the treatment process of Aiwat local Faustina Mai Wauk, who used to suffer from head and neck cancer and has since recovered with the company’s help. Their next plan is to help Subur local Sebastianus Upjandit get cleft palate surgery.
PT Berkat Cipta Abadi is a palm oil plantation company under Tunas Sawa Erma Group (TSE Group) that commits to practicing sustainable palm oil governance and continues innovating through Corporate Social Contribution (CSC) programs to prioritize meeting environmental and social responsibilities. (PR)
