WEST BANGKA -- Tebing Village, Kelapa District, West Bangka Regency is one of the rice producers in West Bangka Regency. The rice grown by farmers in Tebing Village is not yet in demand because there is no place to market it and it is not well known to the public.
Even though the quality of rice grown by farmers in Tebing Village is no less good. During the harvest season, farmers also find it difficult to sell their rice. Realizing this problem, the Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) of Tebing Village together with the Karang Taruna of Tebing Village initiated to promote of local rice from Tebing Village.
Realizing the rice potential of Tebing Village, PT Timah Tbk purchased rice from farmers through BUMDEs and Karang Taruna Tebing Village. The purchased rice will later be used for social assistance for the community which will be distributed in the coming month of Ramadan.
The cooperation to purchase rice with the KT rice brand was carried out by the Tebing Village Secretary Angga Saputra to the Head of the Metallurgical Unit Administration PT Timah Tbk Arif Yudianto at PT Timah's Unmet Guest House Wednesday (23/3/2022).
Tebing Village Secretary, Angga Saputra said, PT Timah Tbk was the first buyer to use KT rice from Tebing Village.
"Thank God, PT Timah can buy KT rice from Tebing Village, this is the first sale. We represent the farmers and the people of Tebing Village, thanking PT Timah for helping and marketing local products," he said.
"So far, farmers find it difficult to market their products at harvest time, due to lack of promotion and consumer buying interest," he continued.
According to Angga, local Tebing farmers' rice is marketed by the Tebing BUMDes in collaboration with the Tebing Village Youth Organization.
"We initiated this KT rice for almost two years, through village funds investing its capital into BUMDES, and BUMDES in collaboration with Karang Taruna Tebing. We are grateful to get concerned from PT Timah, to promote local food products, from the village itself in particular," he said.
According to him, with this program, his party wants to help farmers in selling their food products. Because all this time, there are still many people who are in trouble, when the harvest season lacks buyers.
Head of Karang Taruna of West Bangka Regency, Ari Kurniadi, expressed his appreciation to PT Timah Tbk for helping to stimulate the community's economy, especially Tebing Village by buying farmers' products.
"On behalf of Karang Taruna, we express our gratitude and appreciation to PT Timah, for collaborating with Karang Taruna in Tebing Village, to buy farmers' rice with the KT brand (Karang Taruna)," he said,
Furthermore, he said that PT Timah Tbk was the first to use Karang Taruna's local rice which would later be used for community needs.
“We hope this can be followed by other institutions. The collaboration built by the Karang Taruna in Tebing village with PT Timah shows progress, which can increase the motivation of Karang Taruna in general," he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the West Bangka Social and Community Empowerment Service, Suradi, welcomed PT Timah Tbk's efforts to buy rice products from local farmers.
“West Bangka Social Service is very appreciative of PT Timah who still upholds its commitment to developing this community empowerment. Such as concern for the development of Karang Taruna by buying local product rice. Hopefully, PT Timah will be more victorious and hope that in the future it will continue to be sustainable in advancing Youth Organizations in West Bangka," he said.*
