WEST BANGKA -- The oil palm plantation business is quite promising amidst the high demand for industrial oil. Apart from being developed in large-scale plantations, oil palm plantations are also being developed by the community and have become a livelihood for some of the people of West Bangka.
Seeing this opportunity made Darminto (42), a resident of West Bangka, continue to pursue oil palm plantations. To increase the yield of his plantation, he intends to increase the area of ??his oil palm plantation.
He took advantage of PT Timah Tbk's Micro Small Business Funding (PUMK) program to increase capital and expand oil palm plantations.
He is grateful, his application was approved by PT Timah Tbk, armed with the capital he bought land to expand his oil palm plantation.
"I received information from friends that PT Timah has a capital program for the community. From the funds I bought two hectares of land to expand the oil palm business that I have been involved in," said Darminto
From this additional land, it was not long before Darminto's efforts bore fruit, and he is now able to employ two workers.
"From this additional land, my business is growing, every month I can produce as much as 3 tons of palm oil which are harvested every two weeks," he explained.
According to him, the constraints for oil palm farmers are unstable prices and skyrocketing fertilizer prices, which have reduced the farmers' profits.
However, he is grateful that the results of the oil palm plantations, which are also thanks to PT Timah's assistance, are now a source of livelihood to support his family.
"From a 6-hectare land of 700 palm stems that I own every month, I can get 3 tons of palm oil, which is harvested every 2 weeks, which is the source of income for my family and friends who work in the garden," he said.
According to Darminto, the PUMK program rolled out by PT Timah helps farmers like himself. He hopes the program can be maintained.
"Alhamdulillah, the program launched by PT Timah has helped farmers like me. Hopefully, PT Timah will progress further so that this program can be maintained," he concluded.
