Community empowerment is one of Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) Sinar Mas' priorities in practicing a sustainable business. This commitment is followed by all Mills and Forest Management Units (UMH) across Indonesia through their empowerment program. As part of the effort to improve the program implementation, the company created a medium for all to learn about each of the program management from the given areas.
‘Community Talks’ was one of them where the Corporate Social and Responsibility (CSR) team from each mill and UMH discussed how to develop their empowerment program better. Last November, ‘Community Talks’ was held online talked about the flagship program of PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper (IKPP) Tangerang, namely catfish farming and hydroponics cultivation. There were also representatives from the assisted communities who shared their experiences.
Haidir was a villager from Margajaya Pakulonan, Tangerang Selatan, who has joined the catfish farming assisted program since 2016. Haidir and his other fellows managed several catfish breeding and rearing groups which involved the community around. Now, they could harvest nearly 90 kg of catfish which he then sells to local fishing grounds and other food stalls.
The CSR team of PT IKPP Tangerang also provided development programs for hydroponic vegetable cultivation. Evi Wafiroh is a representative of the Woman-Farmers Group (KWT) of Pakualam, one of the assisted groups that have succeeded in harvesting kale and pokcoy from approximately 2500 hydroponic holes. She sold the vegetables to the surrounding community and Mills employees with a total monthly income of reach more than two million rupiahs.
“At first, we did not understand how to sow or take care of plants, glad we were assisted by consultants prepared by the company, get regular training and assistance. We allocate the sales result to our initial capital first, and then divided equally among all the KWT members as additional income for all of us,” Evi said.
Besides, the participants from Mills and UMH representatives were also actively participated in asking questions and sharing their experiences implementing similar development programs. They also planned to do a courtesy visit to continue discussing and learning about the two flagship programs of PT IKPP Tangerang.
Head of Sustainability Compliance APP Sinar Mas, Sera Noviany hoped it could help increase the participation of the surrounding community in any company’s empowerment program. “Hopefully, we can continue to inspire each other and get to know what aspects need to be improved. That is improving the quality of the program we are running in, and as well as empower the surroundings and bring better community welfare,” she explained.
