Pertamina Assists Gaharu and Honey Bee Farmers

Pariaman, (Antara Sumbar) - PT Pertamina (Persero) Marketing Operation Region (MOR) I provides assistance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of economic empowerment for farmers of gaharu and honey bee species in Pariaman, West Sumatra.

The assistance provided to farmers in East Sungai Buluh, Batang Anai, Pariaman, was symbolically handed over by Operation Head (OH) Depot of Air Mining Station Airport of Minangkabau Airport, West Sumatra, Ridwan, to the Chairman of Nagari Forest Management Agency (LPHN) Sungai Buluh, Datok Rajo Batuah on Thursday.

In the explanation, Ridwan explained that the empowerment program is a continuation of the program of Afforestation of Nagari Forest covering commercial product training of gaharu tree preparation and honey bee cultivation of mekal flower.

Honey bee cultivation and gaharu tree processed products developed as a form of community economic empowerment for farmers in Nagari Sungai Buluh, he said.

The economic empowerment program is a form of Pertamina's social responsibility to the community. The program was chosen because Pertamina sees the potential for the development of gaharu and honey bee cultivation in Sungai Buluh.

"Thus we hope the assistance can help to boost the economy with the principle of people's economy," he said.

By 2016, 2,000 gaharu trees have been planted as a form of environmental conservation.

Currently, farmers can reap the yield by processing gaharu trees into commercially valuable products such as gaharu tea production, cosmetics, handicrafts, herbal medicines and other gaharu-based products.

In addition, community empowerment program in Sungai Buluh is also given to honey bee farmers.

The empowerment provided in the form of training of honey bee cultivation and the procurement of cultivation facilities includes bee seeds, bee boxes, smokers, brushes, honeycomb brushes, pollen traps, frames used by bees for nesting, nesting boxes, honey separators, and extractor which is used when harvesting honey.

"As a form of program sustainability, gaharu and honey bee farmers are given training covering production processing techniques, marketing management, and expansion of product marketing to support business development in the empowerment program," he said. (cha)

Editor: Vicha Faradika