How the ACB, through the Small Grants Programme (SGP I) and its grantee Yayasan Resiliensi Lingkungan Indonesia (RELUNG Indonesia), empowers sugar palm farmers to diversify their products and increase its value and market.
Living amid Gunung Leuser’s vast palm tree plantations, many villagers are palm tree farmers. Before learning the proper way to market and sell raw sugar palm fibres, they used to sell raw sugar palm fibres directly to collectors. With support from the SGP and its grantee Yayasan Resiliensi Lingkungan Indonesia (RELUNG), 40 sugar palm farmers increased their income after improving their production techniques and learning how to produce and market their own pure crystal palm sugar or ant sugar. “We are very happy because our palm sugar is valued higher than the market price by Badan Usaha Milik Desa (BUMDES) or village- owned enterprises. Palm sugar can also be stored longer because it is dry so we are not worried and can better manage when we can sell,” said Juliana Br. Depari, a member of Farmer Production Kitchen Supply Partners in Rumah Galuh Village.
With ginger and other spices aplenty in the park, the villagers also started producing bandrek, a traditional hot, sweet and spicy beverage that people drink to warm themselves. The spicy drink Karo Bandrek and creamy Bandrek Krimer Karomanise are sold in jars and sachets. The villagers produce up to 2,500 packs per week and distribute them across more than 60 outlets in Langkat Regency. They dream of expanding the market for Karomanise products.
“For a long time, we have not progressed as sugar palm farmers. But now, we have produced our own product and we are now selling them online. We are not dependent on BUMDES anymore. Yesterday, I heard that the product reached Malaysia. This has a lot of good impact on us as it increases our ability to earn and our kids become proud of us to be called sugar palm farmers.Now that the ant sugar product is sold online, the name has become more elegant.” — Aldo Reguna, Finance Officer, RELUNG Indonesia.
