Strengthening Community Economy, PT Timah Intensifies The Hidroponic Women's Food Program In Sawang Laut

President Director of PT Timah Tbk Ahmad Dani Virsal while visiting the Follow-up Group of Bestari, Sawang Laut Village (Between)

PT Timah Tbk is intensifying the movement of the hydroponic system food crop program for the women group of Sawang Laut Village, Riau Islands Province, to strengthen the local community's economy in the company's operational area.

"We hope that this program can empower the people of Sawang Laut Village to be more independent in producing healthy and nutritious food products," said PT Timah Tbk President Director Ahmad Dani Virsal while visiting the Follow-up group Bestari Sawang Laut Village, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, February 2, 2024.

He said that through the community empowerment program, PT Timah fostered the Follow-up Bestari group in Sawang Laut Village, West Kundur District, Karimun Regency to cultivate vegetables with a hydroponic system that aims to improve the welfare of women while at the same time supporting food security.

"The Bestari Continuation Group consists of Majlis Taklim Mushalla Assyafi'iyah, Sawang Laut Village, implementing hydroponic agriculture to cultivate various types of vegetables, such as pokcoy, lettuce, sawi senfeng, and celery," said Ahmad Dani Virsal, encouraging members of the Follow-up Bestari group.

He said that PT Timah Tbk is committed to continuing to support the community in developing local potential that can improve the community's economy.

"We want to encourage them to continue to innovate and develop, both in terms of hydroponic cultivation and its derivative products," he said.

Chairman of the Follow-up Group Bestari Sartini conveyed several challenges faced in the hydroponic cultivation process, such as disturbances due to flooding that affect the quality of water and plant nutritional pH.

"This program really helps us in adding insight and skills in the hydroponic field. We can manage this cultivation better and hope that in the future we can expand the product, for example by processing vegetables into chips or other processed products," he said.

He stated that the products produced from the Follow-up Bestari group are now marketed to the local community. Even the demand for hydroponic vegetables continues to grow and becomes a promising business opportunity.

PT Timah Anggi Siahaan's Department Head of Corporate Communication stated that PT Timah Tbk, which is a member of the MIND ID Mining Industry Holding, is assisting the Bestari Advanced Group to develop and optimize hydroponic cultivation.

"This initiative is in line with PT Timah's commitment to not only focus on business success, but also have a positive impact on the surrounding community," he said.

He added that by empowering women's groups through hydroponic agriculture, the company hopes to create a more independent, prosperous, and increase local food security," he also said.