PT Jamkrindo remains consistent in assisting communities in various regions, including Sukabumi Regency, West Java. The support provided by PT Jamkrindo to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) helps boost the community's optimism in navigating difficult conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Sukabumi Regency, PT Jamkrindo started assisting the community in the Ciletuh Palabuhanratu UNESCO Global Geopark area since late 2019. By the end of 2020, the assistance expanded to the Cikidang District, which serves as the gateway to the Ciletuh Palabuhanratu UNESCO Global Geopark. One of the initiatives that has been carried out includes providing hydroponic vegetable cultivation training to housewives and youth group members.
PT Jamkrindo’s Corporate Secretary, Abdul Bari, explained that Jamkrindo’s assistance in Sukabumi is a continuation of empowerment programs previously implemented in Larantuka, Bali, and Garut. “The empowerment programs are part of the company’s efforts to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said Abdul Bari in a press statement on Friday, March 13, 2021.
One of the participants in the hydroponic vegetable cultivation training, Rosdi Rodiallah (24), said that he started growing vegetables hydroponically using the land he owns in Cikidang Village, Cikidang District. “I want to thank PT Jamkrindo for facilitating the training a while ago, which gave me the knowledge,” said Rosdi on Friday, March 13, 2021, in Cikidang, Sukabumi Regency.
Through hydroponic vegetable cultivation, Rosdi successfully boosted his economy. He explained that he produces around 500 kilograms of vegetables every month, with a selling price of Rp 15,000 per kilogram. “After starting it, I began encouraging the younger generation in Cikidang to do the same. If done seriously, hydroponic cultivation is very promising,” said Rosdi.
The vegetables cultivated by Rosdi and the youth in Cikidang are usually ordered by customers before the harvest time. However, there are times when Rosdi sells the hydroponically grown vegetables in Cikidang.
The hydroponic cultivation training in Cikidang was held in December 2020 as part of the ongoing empowerment program in Sukabumi Regency. The same training was also held in the Ciletuh Palabuhanratu UNESCO Global Geopark in early 2020 for members of the Ciletuh Homestay Association (IHC).
In the Ciletuh Geopark, PT Jamkrindo also provided assistance in the form of a fruit processing machine to turn mangoes into chips using a vacuum frying system. Currently, the mango chips produced by the UKM Saluyu, which was assisted by Jamkrindo, are the only local souvenir from the Ciletuh Geopark made from local ingredients produced by the local community.
In addition to providing assistance, PT Jamkrindo also initiated an anti-plastic waste campaign in the Ciletuh Geopark as part of the company’s contribution to the Indonesia Free Plastic Waste 2025 campaign.
Yudi Mulyadi, Chairman of the Ciletuh Homestay Association (IHC), said that slowly, tourism activities in the Ciletuh Geopark are starting to recover, although it has not fully returned to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. “The support from Jamkrindo makes us remain optimistic that with strict health protocols, tourism can recover, even though it may still take some time. The community is optimistic that the economy will recover as well,” said Yudi.
PT Jamkrindo’s empowerment efforts in the Ciletuh Geopark, in accordance with the agreement between PT Jamkrindo and the Sukabumi Regency Government, will continue until the end of 2022. Until the end of the agreement, PT Jamkrindo has planned several activities, including improving the fish auction site (TPI), tourist data collection in the Ciletuh Palabuhanratu UNESCO Global Geopark area, SME’s Centre, and the establishment of a Waste Bank.