Baznas Distributes ZChicken Programme in North Sumatra to Boost Mustahik Economy
The National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) has distributed its ZChicken programme in Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, to improve the economy of mustahik through the empowerment of crispy chicken businesses and to support poverty alleviation efforts. The assistance provided to ensure business sustainability includes ZChicken carts, business equipment, capital, training, and mentoring. A total of Rp300 million was distributed, with each mustahik receiving Rp10 million.
Baznas Chairman Sodik Mudjahid stated that the ZChicken programme is one of the agency’s efforts to optimise the use of zakat for community economic empowerment. The programme also represents Baznas’s contribution to assisting the government in eradicating poverty in Indonesia. “There are still around 3 million people affected by extreme poverty across 88 regencies and cities. Langkat Regency is one of the areas that still has pockets of poverty. Therefore, central and regional Baznas must work harder to help alleviate poverty,” he said, as quoted from an official statement on Tuesday (28/7).
Sodik conveyed that this programme is part of Baznas’s endeavour to empower mustahik through productive enterprise. This effort also aligns with the third Asta Cita goal of President Prabowo Subianto in driving community economic growth. He added that the President is paying significant attention to two main issues: extreme poverty and the economic decline of the middle class. “Through the optimisation of zakat, infak, and sedekah, Baznas is fully committed to assisting the government in alleviating poverty and improving the welfare of the people and the nation, including here in Langkat Regency,” he said.
Furthermore, Sodik noted that nationally, from 2018 to 2026, Baznas has developed 2,265 ZChicken outlets spread across 12 provinces and 67 regencies and cities. This number will continue to grow as Baznas expands its economic empowerment programmes in the culinary sector. Specifically in North Sumatra, he said there are currently 100 ZChicken units spread across Langkat, Deli Serdang, Medan, and Binjai. The presence of this programme is expected to further expand opportunities for mustahik to develop productive businesses and improve family welfare.
Acting Regent of Langkat, Tiorita Br. Surbakti, expressed appreciation for the economic empowerment programme introduced by Baznas in Langkat Regency. She assessed that Baznas’s empowerment programme provides significant benefits to underprivileged communities, particularly in opening business opportunities and encouraging economic independence. “As we know, the ZChicken programme is designed to create economic independence for the underprivileged by providing business capital. It does not stop there; Baznas is also committed to providing access to mentoring in the form of management training. Thank you, Baznas,” said Tiorita.
According to her, the ZChicken economic empowerment programme is in line with the Langkat Regency Government’s efforts to improve the welfare of its citizens. Tiorita also encouraged the public to continue paying their zakat through Baznas. She believes that optimally managed zakat can have a real impact on the community. “The more people who pay zakat, infak, and sedekah through Baznas, the more mustahik small business owners can be empowered,” she said.