BGA Group Launches Sekolah Desa Berdaya, Empowering Communities in 114 Villages

Palm Oil Magazine
PT Bumitama Gunajaya Agro (BGA) has launched Sekolah Desa Berdaya, a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the self-sufficiency and well-being of rural communities within its operational areas. Photo by: BGA

PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – Driven by a strong social commitment through Bumitama Berdaya (Beri Dukungan dan Upaya), PT Bumitama Gunajaya Agro (BGA) has launched Sekolah Desa Berdaya, a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the self-sufficiency and well-being of rural communities within its operational areas. The program was officially inaugurated at two locations: Metro BGA Region Nanga Tayap for the ceremonial event and the Sekolah Desa Berdaya site for facility inspections, including school buildings, training media, and corn planting activities.

This initiative seeks to build economic independence by utilizing local resources and wisdom, fostering local champions and entrepreneurs, improving human resource competitiveness, and promoting environmental sustainability.

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The launch event was attended by BGA management, representatives from the Ministry of Villages, local government officials, educational institutions, strategic partners, and local communities. This moment symbolized a collaborative effort to create an inclusive and sustainable rural development ecosystem.

“Through Sekolah Desa Berdaya, we are not only enhancing the capacity of rural communities but also integrating local potential to create sustainable solutions. We believe that this collaboration will drive real changes in the quality of life for communities surrounding our plantations,” said Rizki Munadhil, Head of CSR BGA, in an official statement to Palmoilmagazine.com on Thursday (January 22, 2025).

The event also featured the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), independent oil palm farmer groups, and the Fire Care Farmer Group (KTPA). This agreement covers productive economic development, access to financing, capacity building for BUMDes, and low-carbon village initiatives.

Since its launch, Sekolah Desa Berdaya has engaged 450 participants across 21 batches, focusing on boosting the productivity of independent oil palm farmers and developing local potential, such as agriculture, handicrafts, and farm produce processing. A key sustainability commitment was demonstrated through corn planting at the Sekolah Desa Berdaya demo plot, involving invited guests. This activity represents support for national food security programs through sustainable agricultural practices involving local communities.

Beyond economic empowerment, Sekolah Desa Berdaya is also part of BGA’s commitment to environmental conservation. The program is integrated with Bumitama Biodiversity & Community Program (BBCP), which manages 7,000 hectares of conservation land in forested and peatland areas. This initiative earned the RSPO Conservation Leadership Award 2023 through collaboration with IDH Netherlands and EarthQualizer.

As of today, 86% of the 114 villages within BGA’s operational areas have been classified as Advanced and Independent Villages according to the 2024 Village Development Index. This data highlights BGA’s positive contribution to rural economic and social development.

We hope Sekolah Desa Berdaya can serve as a catalyst for change, increasing community income to match the regional minimum wage, reducing social disparities, and fostering a self-sufficient entrepreneurial ecosystem. Additionally, the program aims to support the creation of low-carbon villages that balance economic and environmental aspects,” concluded Rizki Munadhil. (P2)

 

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