Ministry of Social Affairs Empowers Porang Farmers in NTB
Mataram (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Social Affairs is strengthening cross-sector collaboration through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Mataram and PT Sanindo Pangan Rinjani to expand the porang farmer empowerment programme in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
The signing of the memorandum of understanding was carried out by Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf together with Rector of the University of Mataram (Unram) Sukardi and a representative of PT Sanindo Pangan Rinjani, witnessed by NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal and Deputy Regent of North Lombok Kusmalahadi Syamsuri at the Unram Auditorium on Thursday.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf stated that the programme is designed with clear role divisions among the parties.
“Seeds from the Ministry of Social Affairs, training from the company’s CSR, accompaniment from the university, monitoring and evaluation from the local government, and the company as the off-taker,” he said.
He stated that this project serves as an initial model (pilot project) that will continue to be developed if it shows positive results.
“If this succeeds later, the Governor will carry out expansion and duplication at several points. This is like an initial trial stage,” said Gus Ipul.
“The buyers must be secured so that the prices are maintained and farmers are not disadvantaged during harvest. Moreover, porang requires 3 to 4 years before it can be harvested,” he added.
He also opened opportunities for broader private sector involvement in the future. Through this collaboration, the government hopes that empowerment will not only increase farmers’ incomes but also create a sustainable economic ecosystem capable of breaking the chain of poverty.
Meanwhile, Unram Rector Sukardi affirmed the university’s readiness to actively participate in the community empowerment programme.
“The university cannot remain in an ivory tower. We must be present in the midst of society, addressing issues of poverty and social inequality,” he said.
“There are 200 hectares of land prepared in North Lombok for porang planting,” he added.
There were two memoranda of understanding signed by the Social Affairs Minister. The first MoU between the Ministry of Social Affairs, Unram, and PT Sanindo Pangan Rinjani on the implementation of social empowerment. The second, between the Ministry of Social Affairs and Unram on synergy in organising social welfare within the Tri Dharma of Higher Education.
In addition, Gus Ipul handed over porang seeds to beneficiary families (KPM) as well as symbolic aid to support the development of the empowerment programme in the region.
This collaboration involves government, universities, and the business world in an integrated empowerment ecosystem from upstream to downstream, including aspects of production, accompaniment, to marketing of the harvest.