PALMOILMAGAZINE, MERAUKE – Koperasi Iska Bekai has initiated the development of a community palm oil plantation in Kampung Salam Epe and Nakias, in the Ngguti District of Merauke Regency. This includes the construction of an access road to improve connectivity between the plantation areas and the villages.
The construction is based on the cooperative’s business permit boundaries in the south, with written support from the Regent of Merauke.
Chairman of Koperasi Iska Bekai, Abraham E. Yolmen, stated that the initiative responds to requests from the heads of Kampung Nakias, Salam Epe, and Tega Epe, aiming to facilitate community activities and reduce transportation costs, which have relied on water transport for years. Similar requests came from villagers in Kampung Banam Epe and Salam Epe, and the Ngguti District.
Also Read: Koperasi Iska Bekai in Merauke Begins Development of 1,000-Hectare Palm Oil Plantation for Villagers
The project has received support from related agencies, including the Cooperation and Small and Medium Business Agency, the Agriculture Agency, and the People’s Housing and Public Works Agency of Merauke Regency.
“This is the same with the proposals from the heads of Kampung Nakias, Salam Epe and Tega Epe to construct connection access. The goal is about to smooth the access and mobility of the villagers. Besides, it would minimize transportation costs which depends on river transportation for all these years,” Abraham E. Yolmen said, as in the official statement to Palmoilmagazine.com, Thursday (1/8/2024)
To realize the proposal, Koperasi Iska Bekai published official documents to PT Ike Sejahtera Abadi (ISA) as the contractor to construct it based on the available regulations.
Koperasi Iska Bekai in indigenous right – base, developed palm oil plantation in the business rights that laid on 5.627,33 hectares. The first project would focus on the first 1.000 hectare – development. The financial and human resource of the cooperation independently operated by hoping that the way construction would escalate the members’ welfare and the villagers around.
The support for the initiative was from the Regency of Merauke and Papua Selatan Province. The two did welcome the good will of the cooperation to independently develop palm oil plantation and implement sustainable practices and good governance.
PT Tritama Lestari, the developer company of Koperasi Iska Bekai in the project emphasized its commitment to maintain environmental sustainability by taking care of the high conservation values and protecting the local natural resources.
The Manager of PT Tritama Lestari, Edward Ginting said that palm oil plantation development would deliver long term – advantages for the villagers around based on the vision and commitment of the cooperation to develop sustainable economy in Distrik Ngguti, Regency of Merauke. (P2)
