Mentawai Amanah Cooperative Receives 12 Ship Grants

Padang, (Antara Sumbar) - Social Trust Fund Cooperative of Amanah in Sikakap, Mentawai Islands District, West Sumatra, founded by social institution Dompet Dhuafa received 12 ships grant from Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries which are worth to Rp5 billion.

"This is a blessing for Mentawai Amanah Cooperative which was born from Social Trust Fund (STF), the program of Dompet Dhuafa after tsunami 2010 in Sikakap and surrounding areas," Social Trust Fund Trustee Mentawai Musfi Yendra stated in Padang on Friday (Sept 29).

The STF program was initially initiated by Dompet Dhuafa and funded from PT Trakindo Corporate Social Responsibility fund.

Members of the cooperative are dominated by fishermen so that the Mentawai Amanah Cooperative is chosen to be one of the grant recipients Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry.

Dompet Dhuafa as the initiator of the cooperative will also be responsible in fostering the fisherman to be better in his business.

"We are grateful to Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries who has chosen Amanah Cooperative as program recipient. Later, we will also support the program as expected by ministry," he said.

In 2014, STF is a legal cooperative entity named after STF Mentawai Amanah Cooperative whose members consist of fishermen in Sikakap to South Pagai region.

Since its incorporated, the activity is not only a savings and loans, but also as a business cooperative. In the middle of buying and selling electronics, household businesses and fishermen fostering.

Head of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office of Mentawai District, Priadinata said the fishermen community should be grateful to get the program, because there are only 20 locations nationally which are designated as recipient of the program.

With the program, it is expected to increase skills of fishermen, the addition of facilities and will have an impact on economic welfare of fishermen.

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has established the location of Integrated Fisheries and Sentra (SKPT) development on small islands and border areas, in accordance with Ministerial Decree number 51 of 2016 on the Establishment Integrated Marine and Fishery Department on Small Islands and Border Areas.

In the Decree, one of the development sites of Integrated Marine and Fishery Center (SKPT) in small islands and border areas is Mentawai Islands in Sikakap Sub-district.

"In Sikakap, there are two cooperatives that get ship grants with the number of 15 units and 12 units of which submitted to Cooperative of Mentawai Amanah formed by Dompet Dhuafa," he said.

Currently all the vessels to be granted are being processed in Sikakap. The handover will take place in December 2017 and will commence in January 2018. (cha)

Editor: Vicha Faradika