Photo: A company representative played with Getentiri kids
BOVEN DIGOEL – As food prices remain unstable, PT Tunas Sawa Erma decided to share their knowledge on bird’s eye chili and kangkong (water spinach) cultivation with Getentiri villagers. The education session took place last week at the home of Sekondus Akean, a customary land right owner in Getentiri, Jair District, Boven Digoel Regency.
Locals could use empty spots on their porch to build a vegetable or fruit garden, trainers from the company explained. In this session, trainers chose kangkong and chili since they can be raised in limited spaces and easily maintained.
The reason PT TSE pushes for vegetable and fruit cultivation, aside from meeting food needs, is that gardens provide many opportunities that support Papua’s economy in the long run.
Apart from the teaching session, the company encouraged residents to start their own businesses through an inspiring video. The clip showed Mindiptanah villagers; indigenous Papuans who found success in managing a rubber plantation. PT TSE believed their story could be an example for Getentiri people.
Sekondus said, “The company took the right step by supporting our vegetable garden business. As a representative of the (Getentiri) villagers, I feel really grateful,”
Employees posed with locals
A snapshot of Getentiri kids, who welcomed the event
This event reflected PT Tunas Sawa Erma’s concern for indigenous communities. It was also a part of the company’s monthly communication activity under the Corporate Social Contribution (CSC) program. TSE Group created this activity to support their five pillars, which aimed at boosting local economies.
The event ended with a dinner party. Both company employees and Getentiri mothers prepared the food in a joint cooking demo, a recurring session that seeks to strengthen ties between PT TSE and Papuans.
PT Tunas Sawa Erma is a part of Tunas Sawa Erma (TSE) Group, which engages in palm oil plantation business in Papua. TSE is committed to practicing sustainable palm oil governance and keeps innovating in an effort to prioritize fulfilling its environmental and social responsibility. (PR)
