Golden yellow melons hang from a hydroponic farm at Tanjung Karangan Village, Muara Enim Regency. These are not ordinary melons; they are premium golden melons that can be sold for above-average prices.Premium golden melons are not the only plants cultivated there. Green seedlings spread across 1.5 hectares (ha) at Bukit Asam Industrial Center (SIBA) Nursery fostered by PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA).
Previously idle and unusable land has now been transformed into a nursery business that supports the neighboring community. One of them is Suwarno, a local villager. Suwarno used to work as a laborer in illegal mining (PETI) around Tanjung Karangan Village. However, working at PETI was risky because besides against the law, it was also unhealthy.
Suwarno is relieved since he is no longer in danger of landslides or punishment and his body is healthier. His family at home feels more at ease.
"Before working here, we worked at PETI. Digging, hauling in sacks, and loading into trucks. Suwarno stated, "Working here keeps my energy up, my body healthy, and my family happy."
SIBA Pembibitan was initiated by Zailani, a local hero of Tanjung Karangan Village, with the support of PTBA. SIBA Pembibitan promotes environmentally friendly automation-based plant cultivation to help greening and reclamation programs. Furthermore, it is designed to suit the local community's vegetable and fruit demands.
SIBA Pembibitan has provided the local community with an alternative, sustainable source of income. Workers at SIBA Pembibitan are from low-income households and were previously employed by PETI.
Quail Cultivation
PTBA also supports the transformation of Seleman Village, which is about 15 kilometers away from Tanjung Karangan.
Tonidi, a resident of Seleman Village, used to work as a welder at PETI. He said that many locals work there. He remarked that working at PETI made him uncomfortable because there were concerns about being raided and the potential of work accidents.
"Previously, we worked at PETI. But then we knew that we needed to leave and pursue other livelihoods," said Tonidi.
With PTBA support, Tonidi and his friends founded the Bangsal Pematang Group and started a quail farming business in April 2024. The business now has 15 members.
"Bukit Asam provided assistance in the form of 200 quail parents ready to lay eggs, cages, feed, training, and so on," he said.
The Bangsal Pematang Group can collect eight or nine quail eggs in a single day. This business generates about IDR 10 million in revenue each month.
Not only the eggs, quail droppings also have economic value. The Bangsal Pematang Group supplies the bird droppings to SIBA Pembibitan (Nursery) to be processed into organic fertilizer. "We work together with the SIBA Pembibitan to supply bird droppings, which are then used for fertilizer," said Tonidi.
Snakehead Fish Cultivation
Meanwhile, in Tanjung Agung Village, PTBA supports the development of snakehead fish cultivation as an alternative source of new, sustainable income for the community around the PETI area.
The Putra Susukan Snakehead Fish Group, a PTBA fostered partner, successfully completed its first harvest on Friday, July 19, 2024, harvesting around 150 kilograms (kg) of snakehead fish.
"We hope that the cultivation of snakehead fish will continue to expand. We also wish to ask our members to continue learning together about farming snakehead fish, given its very high economic potential," said Putra Zaman, Head of the Putra Susukan Snakehead Fish Group.
To feed the fish, Putra Susukan Snakehead Fish Group obtains maggot supplies from the Tanjung Agung Maggot Business Group (KUMATA), which is also supported by PTBA.
DESA IMPIAN
SIBA Pembibitan, Bangsal Pematang Group, and Putra Susukan Snakehead Fish Group are all partners of PTBA, which are part of Boost the Agricultural Sector Economy with Innovation Towards Sustainable Environmental Management Program (DESA IMPIAN).
Dedy Saptaria Rosa, VP Sustainability of PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), explained that this program aims to create sustainable career opportunities for vulnerable groups around the company's operational areas, while also supporting the government's Food Security and Stunting Handling Programs.
"With Endless Energy, Bukit Asam seeks to drive village transformation through innovative and sustainable initiatives. We invite changemakers, particularly local heroes, to collaborate and build civilization for a better future," said Dedy.
Through DESA IMPIAN social innovation, PTBA seeks to improve community welfare by utilizing local resources wisely and sustainably.
DESA IMPIAN has been implemented in six villages/sub-districts inside the company's ring 1 areas: Tanjung Agung Village, Tanjung Karangan, Seleman, Tanjung Lalang, Keban Agung, and Pasar Tanjung Enim. The overall number of beneficiaries reached 80, including former PETI workers, low-income communities, and housewives from underprivileged households.
