In the verandah of a modest house in Tanjung Karangan Village, Muara\nEnim, discarded sacks that would ordinarily end up in landfills now\nstand in neat rows, sprouting fresh green foliage that pleases the eye.\nBehind this attractive scene lies a quiet movement of housewives\ntransforming waste into food self-sufficiency. Through their efforts,\nresidential plots that were once barren have been transformed into\n\u201cliving markets\u201d providing daily kitchen needs.<\/p>\n
This movement is known as EcoGrow Mom, a women\u2019s empowerment\ninitiative based on urban farming launched by PT Bukit Asam (PTBA) Tbk.\nThe programme is not merely ordinary gardening activity; it is a\ncontinuation of a nursery tradition that has long flourished in the\nvillage.<\/p>\n
Since late 2025, its focus has broadened. Women are no longer just\nraising seedlings for sale, but are beginning to cultivate food crops\nthat directly reach their families\u2019 dinner tables.<\/p>\n
Eko Prayitno, Corporate Secretary Division Head of PTBA, explained\nthat urban farming in this remote village is a clever solution for\nbuilding a circular economy. By using simple growing media such as\ndiscarded sacks and processing household waste, low-income communities\nand former artisanal miners (PETI) now have new economic\nopportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to strengthen the role of women as drivers of independent\nvillage development through sustainable agriculture,\u201d said Eko during a\nconversation in Palembang on Friday.<\/p>\n
For local residents, the benefits far exceed economic figures. Tuti,\nHead of the Women Farmers\u2019 Group (KWT) Utun Makmur, described how the\nprogramme has changed her life rhythm. From merely household chores, she\nand other women now have space to learn farming knowledge whilst\nstrengthening social bonds.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur house yards are now neatly organised and full of vegetables.\nBesides for our own consumption, some can be shared with neighbours or\nsold,\u201d she said with evident happiness.<\/p>\n
Technically, the mentoring provided by PTBA is carried out in stages\nand measured carefully. Training ranges from basic waste utilisation to\nproduction targets of approximately 5,000 vegetable seedlings using\nsimple growing media.<\/p>\n
Indeed, village land covering one hectare is now being optimised into\nproductive green spaces. Through regular monitoring, the programme\nensures that every plot of land in Tanjung Karangan Village contributes\nto household food security.<\/p>\n
However, behind the success of this urban farming movement at the\ngrassroots level lies a larger foundation that must be maintained at the\nnational level: strategic policy. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran\nSulaiman emphasised that progress in the agricultural sector, both at\nlarge scale and household level, depends greatly on a collection of\nsystematically designed policies.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/housewife-transforms-waste-into-food-self-sufficiency-through-ecogrow-1772211441", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }