SMM CELEBRATES THE FIRST HARVEST OF EDAMAME BY TUAH BERKARYA FARMERS GROUP IN EAST BELITUNG

12 Aug 2022

 

Belitung, 12 Agustus 2022 – PT Sahabat Mewah dan Makmur (SMM), a subsidiary of PT Austindo Nusantara Jaya Tbk (ANJ) recently celebrated the edamame harvest in Jangkang Village, Dendang District, East Belitung Regency. The edamame harvest which was held on Monday (8/8) in the Tuah Berkarya farmer group's garden was part of the GERBANG EMAS community empowerment program (Movement to Develop Edamame for the Community) implemented by SMM since the end of 2020. The harvest was attended by members of the Tuah Berkarya farmer group, staff representatives, and SMM management representatives on an area of ​​0.1 ha.

According to M. Amin Pohan, Project Manager of the GERBANG EMAS Program, the Tuah Berkarya farmer group is a new group that was successfully established and mentored by SMM with members of communities from the socio-economically vulnerable background. Previously, SMM had succeeded in assisting four farmer groups in developing edamame cultivation in Dendang District, East Belitung.

“This is the first harvest of the Tuah Berkarya Farmer Group as a result of the guidance from the SMM team. We hope that the group will continue to develop like our other assisted farmer groups so that the GERBANG EMAS program objective to improve the welfare of the community can be achieved,” added M. Amin Pohan.

   

In addition to introducing and teaching the cultivation of edamame as a new commodity, through the GERBANG EMAS Program, SMM also encourages its fostered farmer groups to be more concerned about the environment. To reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, SMM provides training on the use of organic fertilizers and natural pest control. One of the training efforts that SMM provides to its assisted farmer groups is organic fertilizer production by composting and making eco-enzymes. Meanwhile, for natural pest control, SMM also teaches the manufacture of liquid smoke, refugia, and light solar traps.

On the same occasion, Dendi, Chief of the Tuah Berkarya Farmer Group, said that the first harvest of the farmer group he led was quite good, reaching around 170 kg. Dendi also added that a lot of fresh edamame from the harvest has been absorbed by consumers.

“Consumers scramble to purchase in large quantities. This is certainly a blessing in itself and motivates group members to continue developing edamame cultivation,” said Dendi.

Prior to successfully conducting agronomic training and field support for edamame planting, SMM had successfully started the Food Security Program through the vegetable garden and catfish farming in East Belitung. Subsequently, as part of the Community Development Program, SMM expanded the program to grow edamame and rice.

Juli Wankara Purba, Resident Director of SMM, explained that edamame was a novel crop for the people of East Belitung, but they quickly succeeded in cultivating this nutritious commercial crop.

“SMM as part of the ANJ Group is committed to providing equal opportunities to all members of the local community around our operational areas to achieve mutual prosperity. Through the Community Development Program, we have developed initiatives to create economic opportunities for communities around the areas where we operate. One example is the Food Security Program through planting edamame,” concluded Juli.

 

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