Bintang Toedjoe and Astra Develop the Agricultural SME Sector Through the YDBA Business Development Institute

According to Liputan6.com, Astra, through the Dharma Bhakti Astra Foundation (YDBA), continues to strive to develop Indonesian SMEs so that they can move up a class and become self-sufficient, in order to realize Astra's aspiration to Prosper with the Nation. One of the developed SME sectors is the agricultural sector, which contributes to Indonesia's food security.

To assist with this, Astra established a Business Development Institute (LPB) in Lebak, Banten as a branch of YDBA in the area with a focus on fostering the agricultural SME sector, which acts as program manager, motivator, and consultant to assist SME in the region on a regular and consistent basis.

Previously, since 2020, YDBA and PT Bintang Toedjoe, who served as Adoptive Father, have worked together to develop red ginger farm in Lebak, Banten. YDBA and PT Bintang Toedjoe have provided farmers with various coaching programs, both management and technical, to help them produce products that meet the quality, cost, and delivery standards established by PT Bintang Toedjoe as foster fathers. PT Bintang Toedjoe had absorbed more than 48.5 tons of red ginger produced by the 41 farmers by the end of last year.

The aforementioned accomplishments have encouraged YDBA to remain committed to agricultural development in the Banten region. YDBA demonstrated this type of commitment by establishing LPB. Apart from focusing on red ginger cultivation, LPB will also focus on citronella cultivation involving 19 farmers in 2 districts and 6 villages.

The development of citronella cultivation has been underway since late 2022 in collaboration with a company engaged in the agribusiness sector with a focus on cultivating citronella from upstream to downstream.

Present to inaugurate the LPB, namely the Chairman of the YDBA Board, Sigit P. Kumala, Secretary of the YDBA Board, Ida R. M. Sigalingging, Sobang District Police Chief, Iptu Eri Gustriadi, Regional Coordinator of the Agricultural Extension Agency, Obang Sobari, Babinsa Hariang Banten Village, Serma Iskak Budiana, Coordinator of LPB Lebak Banten, Dani Kurnia and representatives of assisted farmers, Asrip.

In January 2023, for the first time, 3 YDBA assisted farmers succeeded in supplying 34.89 kilos of essential oil as a processed citronella product to CV DAB Subur as YDBA's collaborative partner in coaching citronella farmers.