Sugeng Priyanto is now recognized as a successful catfish farmer in Tegal Rejo Village, Lawang Kidul District, Muara Enim. He generates a monthly turnover of tens of millions of rupiah.Success didn’t come easily for Sugeng. His business once faced a downturn, but through hard work and persistence, he was able to recover and thrive. Sugeng's catfish farming business is one of PT Bukit Asam Tbk's (PTBA) fostered partners.
Catfish has significant market potential, with catfish dishes being commonly found at food stalls throughout Muara Enim. This widespread demand inspired Sugeng to venture into the catfish breeding business.
"I began learning on my own about catfish farming, using the internet and other means. At that time, my capital was limited—only IDR 5 million. I even had to dip into my savings to get started," said Sugeng.
Not feeling ready to jump straight into catfish farming, Sugeng decided to start with a breeding business instead. This was due to his limited capital and lack of experience.
The decision to focus on breeding wasn't without challenges. At one point, tens of thousands of Sugeng's catfish seeds died from disease. "I was shocked as well. But I couldn't dwell on the setback for too long. I had to keep moving forward," he said.
There was also a flood disaster that caused farmers and collectors to hesitate in buying his seeds. "It's understandable—when there’s a flood, catfish can swim freely out of their ponds," said Sugeng.
Sugeng was unsure what to do with the growing catfish seeds, which were nearing the size suitable for consumption. Eventually, he decided to move forward and expand into the rearing business.
In 2021, Sugeng joined as a fostered partner of PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA). He then received a soft loan to develop his business. "I used the money to build a rearing pond," he said.
In addition to financial support, Sugeng noted that he had gained many other benefits since becoming a PTBA fostered partner. "Bukit Asam offers us MSME owners various training sessions, which are held regularly, usually through Rumah BUMN Bukit Asam," he said.
Bukit Asam also assisted Sugeng in the Fisheries Competency Certification activities organized by the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP). Sugeng successfully passed and received the BNSP Certificate.
This gave him the confidence to run his business further. After facing many ups and downs, Sugeng is now a successful catfish farmer.
"I feel indebted to Bukit Asam. I have received additional business capital, coaching, and even participated in the BNSP certification. I hope Bukit Asam will continue to be committed to supporting MSMEs like mine," he concluded.
With an unwavering commitment to community empowerment, PTBA, through its partnership program, strives to develop its fostered MSMEs by providing business capital assistance, training, and support for product promotion and marketing. This aligns with the government's Asta Cita, particularly point 3, which focuses on increasing quality employment and fostering entrepreneurship.
