Pagar Dewa Village, Tanjung Agung District, Muara Enim Regency, has successfully cultivated organic rice. The first harvest of organic brown rice seeds in an area of 1.5 hectares was carried out on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

The total amount of seed produced was 4.2 tons, to be planted in 165-170 hectares of organic rice fields.

"As a representative of PT Bukit Asam, I would like to express my gratitude and pleasure for the farmers' hard work in cultivating organic rice, which has enabled us to carry out the first harvest today." This is a great achievement, and we hope that it may be improved further," said Suherman, the Director of Human Resources (HR) at PT Bukit Asam Tbk.

Berkah Rural Sejagat Foundation will purchase the full yield and package it as seeds. The collaboration, organic seed culture, and organic fertilizer production enabled PTBA-supported farmers to purchase seeds and fertilizer with ease.

This continuous program is expected to bring benefits to farmers in Pagar Dewa Village and its surroundings.

"PTBA is committed to continuing to support sustainable programs that benefit and prosper the communities around PTBA's operational area. In line with PTBA's Noble Purpose as a member of the MIND ID Group, which is for civilization, prosperity and a brighter future," he said.

Cultivating and planting organic rice is part of PT Bukit Asam Tbk's (PTBA) Environmentally Friendly Renewable Energy Food Cluster (Ruang Rural) program, which aims to increase farmer welfare and support the availability of national food supply.

Ruang Rural also aims to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) of hunger eradication, food security and nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. This is PTBA's active role as a SOE in the Government's program, which is preventing and reducing stunting or malnutrition in the community.