Indonesia's Central Bank Bengkulu Branch Strengthens Pesantren Economy to Combat Inflation and Support Free Nutritious Meal Programme
BENGKULU – Bank Indonesia’s regional office in Bengkulu Province is leveraging pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) in the region to help control inflation by targeting the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG).
The Bengkulu branch’s innovation is packaged within the “Wakaf Trendi” programme, designed to drive productivity and economic empowerment within pesantren environments to enable them to establish competitive independent business units with the aim of becoming a force in controlling inflation.
This approach represents a significant advancement compared to the previous year, which began with only one initiative programme.
“Wakaf Trendi is part of Bank Indonesia’s innovation to encourage pesantren productivity and empowerment. This year we are running three waqf (endowment) programmes with funds allocated to three pesantren,” said Wahyu Yuwana Hidayat, Head of Bank Indonesia’s Bengkulu Provincial Representative Office, in a written statement on Tuesday (17 March 2016).
Wakaf TRENDI (Trengginas, Edukatif, Mandiri – meaning Nimble, Educational, Self-Reliant) focuses on productivity to ensure pesantren food self-sufficiency for students.
Hidayat explained that by 2026, the accumulated funds will be utilised for chilli cultivation across two hectares at Pondok Pesantren Entrepreneur Hafidz Qur’an in Kepahiang Regency, Bengkulu.
Subsequently, layer chicken farming with 400 birds will be managed by Pondok Pesantren Al-Karim in Bengkulu City.
Finally, hydroponic cultivation of pak choi and lettuce will take place at Pondok Pesantren Abdurrahman Al-Fatih in Bengkulu City.
The expectation is that by having productive enterprises, pesantren will not only be able to meet internal needs but also synergise with broader markets to fulfil community requirements, including supplying provisions for the MBG programme.
He added that one strategic target of pesantren production is supporting the national government programme.
“Beyond serving domestic markets and the pesantren’s own needs, the production will later be coordinated to support the requirements of the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG),” Hidayat explained.