Committed to SDGs Point 8, Pertamina Go Sustainable Empowers 8 Thousand MSEs in the Agriculture Sector

Jakarta, September 27, 2021 - September 24, is a sacred day for Indonesian farmers. This date is commemorated as Farmer's Day, coinciding with the ratification of the Basic Agrarian Law No. 5 of 1960. PT Pertamina (Persero), through Go Sustainable, Micro Small Business Funding (PUMK) program, contributed MSEs in the agricultural sector empowerment. Therefore, they can increase their productivity, upgrade, and be independent while fully committed to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point 8 in promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, providing comprehensive and productive employment opportunities and decent work for all.

Acting Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of Pertamina, Fajriyah Usman, explained, "From 1993 to 2021, Pertamina has fostered more than 8 thousand small businesses engaged in the agricultural business. "This sector includes coaching for farmers of rice, corn, chili, and various other agricultural products that support food security efforts," she said.

Mentoring and coaching are also given directly to farmers and groups that foster these farmers. This method is carried out so that there are more beneficiaries of this UMK Funding Program. Pertamina synergizes with several institutions that oversee farmer development. One of them is capital financing synergy with Al Ittifaq Agribusiness Islamic Boarding School in West Java. It is distributed to 37 fostered farmers.

One of the mentors working in this sector is Amrullah Fiqri. The owner of the Farmer Clinic UMK based on Jl. TGH. M. Amin Ismail, Suryawangi, Labuhan Haji, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara has a strong determination to develop agricultural potential in his hometown.

"In 2016 after, completing my master's degree in Malang, I returned to NTB to serve. After exploring the local environment, I found that the productivity of the land was already critical. Therefore, I gathered several agricultural scholars to form teamwork. We are piloting chili cultivation by providing all the ingredients," said Fiqri.

Finally, he was able to achieve the main goal. The quality of agricultural land around his hometown is getting better, especially after Fiqri used organic fertilizer from the formula made by Fiqri and his colleagues at the Tani Clinic. "The problem of difficulty getting agricultural products in our area was also resolved. It is because Farmers Clinic also produces quite a lot of volume," he added.

There is also a chili farmer, Yareli, the chairman of the Deli Serdang Juli Tani Group, who has been a foster partner of Pertamina since 2018. In 2018 his land area was under 27 hectares. Now it is 35 hectares. "With the final output in 2018, which was 19 tons/ha, now it is 21 tons/ha. Members of the group also increased from 16 people to 29 people. Thank you, Pertamina for the help," he said.

According to Fajriyah, through the PUMK Program, Pertamina wants to provide energy that can move the economy--energy that fuels and energy that produce sustainable growth. Pertamina also encourages each partner to become upgraded MSEs and Go Global.

Pertamina also supports SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) achievement by implementing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)-based programs in all its operational areas. It is part of the Environmental and Social Responsibility (TJSL) to realize economic benefits in the community.**