Cultivating Added Value for the Communities Around the Mine Through Sugar Palm

West Sumbawa, 29 February 2024 - The tropical climate, ample rainfall, and fertile soil make West Sumbawa (KSB) ideal for the cultivation of sugar palm, locally known as aren. The high domestic and international demand for aren products presents significant market opportunities, especially for aren farmers in the village of Tongo in the Sekongkang sub-district of KSB.

One inspiring aren cultivator is Nurkhasanah, the head of the ‘Saling Sakiki’ aren farmers group in Sejorong, Tongo, KSB. She has created employment opportunities for dozens of people in her hamlet, including the twenty workers engaged in planting, maintenance, sap processing, production, and promotion activities.

PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara ("AMMAN") has been committed to supporting the cultivation of aren around the Batu Hijau mine since 2022. This support reflects AMMAN's vision to provide continuous economic and social benefits to the local community in order to create a legacy of best.

“We are grateful for the support provided by AMMAN. As farmers, we have received a lot of education, information, and training,” said Nurkhasanah. “The assistance for production facilities and promotion infrastructure also has a significant impact. Through this program, our income has increased by up to 50%,” she added.

Much of this increase in income derives from innovations to add value to the aren. Farmers who once produced only raw palm sugar can now process the sap into such products as liquid sugar, powdered sugar, ginger sugar, coffee with palm sugar, coffee with milk and palm sugar, sugar palm fruit, and sugar cubes.

“With a total production reaching 200 liters of sap per day, the Saling Sakiki community of aren farmers can now sell to various consumer groups, such as local communities, companies in KSB, and local or foreign tourists who visit the plantation and buy products as souvenirs,” Nurkhasanah added.

Since AMMAN launched its aren cultivation development program, farmers and community groups have begun to enjoy numerous benefits. Skills upgrading, access to capital, infrastructure improvements, and marketing and product promotion have helped to create a lucrative and continuous sugar palm industry to support the local community.

“The aren cultivation program employs sustainable agriculture principles by growing plants from a managed nursery instead of using palm trees in the wild. In addition, aren cultivation is integral to the tradition and culture of the Tongo community. AMMAN's support for aren cultivation helps preserve this tradition and culture as it supports continuous economic and social development,” said AMMAN Vice President of Social Impact Priyo Pramono.