BANGKA - Students of PT Timah Tbk's Pemali Boarding School scholarship class program, do not only get academic education programs. In the dormitory students from various regions are also trained in soft skills such as farming.
They used the empty land at the Pemali hostel to grow vegetables and fruits in the yard and hallways of the dormitory. Farming is also one of their ways to get rid of boredom.
One of the students, Dafit, said that the farming program they are promoting is in line with the Intra Dormitory Student Organization (OSIA) program, which also has a dormitory garden program.
He said they had five harvests such as mustard greens, beans, celery, kale, tomatoes, and papayas.
This grade 12 student, from Manggar, East Belitung, also revealed that he had only learned about farming while he was part of the PT Timah Tbk scholarship class student dormitory.
“This is just where I tried to grow crops, and coincidentally I have a friend who enjoys farming. Apart from that, from him, I also learned how to plant so that I could harvest. Thank God PT Timah facilitated this and this makes us even more excited," said Dafit, Monday (27/3/2023).
He mentioned they were not always smooth in farming such as failing when planting chilies.
“Previously we experienced many failures, where there were many pests, diseases from trees, and others. But as time went on we were finally able to do our first harvest, and that made us more enthusiastic about farming.”
In the future, they plan to learn how to make compost using dry leaves around there.
"I hope this program will continue in the dormitory so that the environment in the dormitory can be put to good use and provide benefits for the students. Thank you PT Timah for supporting student activities. Hopefully, PT Timah will remain victorious, and continue to provide better benefits for the people of Bangka Belitung," said Dafit.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Tarmizi (17), a grade 11 student, also said that he was used to farming because both of his parents were farmers.
This student from Zed Village also hopes that in the future it will not only be farming but also doing other activities such as raising fish or poultry.
"Even in the future, we are also ready to learn to raise chickens or fish. Because for us, whatever the business is, it can be a provision. Apart from that, of course, there must be a mentor or friend who already masters the field, to reduce the percentage of failures, "he said. (*)
