PANGKALPINANG — The involvement of local livestock farmers in supplying sacrificial animals for community distribution carried out by PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk has brought its own sense of happiness to the farmers. One of them is Budi Apriadi, a cattle farmer from AK58 Farm, Cemara 2 Hamlet, Kurnia Jaya Village, East Belitung Regency.
Budi expressed his gratitude for the opportunity this year to collaborate in supplying sacrificial cattle through PT TIMAH’s subsidiary, PT Timah Agro Manunggal (TAM).
As a local farmer, Budi was pleased that local breeders like himself could become suppliers of sacrificial animals for PT TIMAH and directly distribute them to the community. According to him, the survey mechanism implemented provided broader opportunities for local farmers to participate.
“Alhamdulillah, we were involved by PT TIMAH through PT TAM to fulfill the company’s sacrificial animal needs, and the selection of local farmers was also conducted competitively through surveys carried out by PT TAM. As local farmers, we feel we were given the opportunity and directly involved,” he said.
Through the sacrificial animal procurement collaboration conducted via PT TAM, Budi was entrusted with supplying 39 cattle for distribution across Belitung Island and East Belitung. In addition to himself, other local breeders on Belitung Island were also involved by PT TIMAH.
For Budi, the trust given was a valuable experience because it was the first year he had collaborated with the company, and direct surveys were conducted involving several teams to assess the readiness of the farmers.
“We underwent surveys. They checked everything from the readiness of the cattle sheds, feed availability, animal health, to management systems. This became a positive experience because the farmers were directly involved,” he explained.
To meet distribution needs, the cattle provided were predominantly Madura cattle with an average weight of around 320 kilograms each. Distribution of the cattle has already begun using several transport vehicles.
He explained that cattle orders from PT TIMAH became a breath of fresh air for farmers like himself, as public demand for sacrificial cattle has declined this year.
“Public demand has indeed decreased compared to previous years, but Alhamdulillah there were procurement orders from PT TIMAH’s sacrificial animal program, which greatly helped farmers. Cattle prices have also increased due to limited availability,” he said.
For Budi, the involvement of local breeders in sacrificial animal procurement not only impacts the economic aspect but also opens opportunities for farmers to improve the quality of their livestock businesses.
“We are grateful and happy to be given this opportunity. Through initiatives like this, local farmers have equal opportunities to grow,” he concluded.
By involving local livestock farmers in the procurement of sacrificial animals, PT TIMAH’s sacrificial animal distribution program not only benefits recipient communities but also supports the economic growth of farmers in the company’s operational areas. (*)
