Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Residents who live around the RW 07 Cempaka Putih Barat area, Jakarta, feel positive changes in their living environment. If previously it was an abandoned piece of land that looked unkempt and often became a dumping ground for rubbish, now this land has been transformed into something more beautiful.

Thanks to the initiative of residents who are members of the Dahlia 07 Farmers Group (Poktan) as well as support from the BRINita (BRI Farming in the City) program from BRI, the area is now more beautiful and productive because it produces various kinds of vegetables and medicinal plants and improves the economy of its residents.

As told by Tri Haryanto, RW 07 Secretariat who is also an activist urban farming Poktan Dahlia, an abandoned land that used to be a place for residents' rubbish and debris, has begun to be managed independently since 2022.

“In 2022 we will fully manage it but it will still be rudimentary. Then after that we received assistance from BRI through the BRI Cares BRINita CSR program. Thanks to this assistance, the land can finally be like this, which is certainly much better than when we managed it independently,” he said in written statement, quoted on Sunday (23/6/2024).

The planting methods used by Poktan Dahlia are hydroponics, multiculture, and vertical gardens. They also built a pond for cultivating catfish. Types of vegetables grown include Brazilian spinach, kale, bok choy, mustard greens, eggplant, tomatoes. Residents also carry out routine maintenance to care for the land, including adding fertilizer and watering.

The BRINita program is a new opportunity for residents of RW 07 Cempaka Putih Barat to be more productive. The assistance provided includes plants, fish seeds, warehouses and toilets. On an area of ​​300 m2 which was previously a landfill, now looks more beautiful with the presence of various types of hydroponic plants and a catfish pond.

Sukarni, one of the members of Poktan Dahlia 07 said that the activity urban farming This is very beneficial for residents, because those who previously had no activities, can now be more productive by taking care of them urban farming which exists. Various types of products are produced, ranging from Brazilian spinach chips, rosella drinks and telang flowers which are also grown by themselves.

“The economic impact certainly helps residents earn additional income. Moreover, residents have also received guidance on how to make products, packaging “which is interesting, so we can market it with packaging that meets standards,” explained Sukarni.

On a separate occasion, Deputy Main Director of BRI Catur Budi Harto added that BRI continues to realize its commitment to social and environmental responsibility by distributing programs that can actually encourage the improvement of the environmental ecosystem. The BRINita program is one of BRI's real commitments to preserving the environment in the city center which utilizes narrow land in densely populated areas.

“It is hoped that this activity can reduce environmental pollution, increase beauty and reduce household waste. On the other hand, this is also a manifestation of the community's positive contribution to environmental balance,” said Catur.

In its implementation, BRI also provides guidance for group members or beneficiaries in the form of management training urban farming by collaborating with experts/relevant agencies and monitoring activities urban farming and develop results urban farming so that it can add economic value.

“This program is not only at one point, but at 21 points in Indonesia. With the infrastructure assistance that we provide, it is hoped that this program will continue to run continuously so that it becomes a positive forum for the community,” he stressed.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(nightingale)