PT DAHANA collaborated with the Subang-Purwakarta Branch of Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM)— to form a cluster program for citronella cultivation and horticulture for Subang farmers around the Company. DAHANA and PNM held a meeting at the DAHANA’s Saung Coffee Plantation, Subang, on Thursday, 22 June 2023.

Head of PT DAHANA’s Social and Environmental Responsibility (SER) Unit, Eman Suherman said that this collaboration program was created as a step to empower the community around the Company to increase income and extra income. In addition, this program represents the Company’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

“DAHANA is highly committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one form of which is the Company’s involvement in the Agroforestry program which is done collaboratively with Subang-Purwakarta PNM for the Tangkalna Lestari Abadi Forest Farmers Group (KTH),” said Mr Suherman.

Meanwhile, the Head of Subang-Purwakarta PNM Branch Jimy Firmansyah said that his institution had formed citronella cultivation and horticulture clusters for farmers around the Company. DAHANA and PNM provided assistance to KTH Tangkalna Lestari Abadi for the intercropping process of cultivating vegetables and citronella grass under the tree stands.

“This activity is expected to provide additional, more productive activities, so as to bring added value and income to support the economy of farming families in Subang,” said Mr Firmansyah.

By early 2023, around 2000 coffee trees had been planted, and currently planting of seasonal horticultural vegetables and citronella grass has started under the tree stands. Planting citronella trees on a demonstration plot scale was carried out around May 2023 around and between coffee and shaca inchi plants.

Meanwhile, the planting on a production scale has just entered the stage of weeding. However, according to the weather and season calendar, the dry season has now begun, so the planting of vegetables has to be postponed until the rainy season starts.

 Mr Suherman added that through this collaboration, he hoped to accelerate economic empowerment for farmers around the company. Apart from that, this helps maintain forest and land sustainability while farmers get significant additional income.

“Under this innovative program, we hope that it will provide long-term benefits for the community around the company and strengthen synergistic relations among the agricultural sector, companies and the government in supporting sustainable development,” concluded Mr Suherman.