InfoSAWIT, KOTAWARINGIN – Bumitama (BGA Group) continues to expand its community empowerment initiatives by bringing the Sekolah Desa Berdaya (Empowered Village School) program to Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan. Previously implemented and regarded as successful in Nanga Tayap, West Kalimantan, the program is now officially rolled out in Central Kalimantan as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to building more independent, adaptive, and sustainable villages surrounding its operational areas.
The Sekolah Desa Berdaya program falls under Bumitama Berdaya (Beri Daya dan Upaya), an umbrella initiative that emphasizes empowerment rooted in local wisdom, strengthened community capacity, and support for village-based economic development.
The official launch in Central Kalimantan was held at Metro Manggau, Kotawaringin Regency, and was accompanied by a site visit to key supporting facilities, including the school building and practical learning media that will be used as part of the community learning process.
The inauguration was attended by BGA management as well as government agencies and key stakeholders. Participants included representatives from the Directorate of Cooperatives & MSMEs of BAPPENAS RI, the Assistant Regent, Bappeda, the Plantation Office, the Industry, Trade, Cooperatives & MSMEs Office, and the Kotawaringin Barat Regional House of Representatives (DPRD). The event also involved community leaders, cooperative and banking partners, and local villagers.
BGA Corporate Affair Director Johan Sukardi emphasized that long-term sustainability can only be achieved when business growth aligns with progress in surrounding communities.
“Through Sekolah Desa Berdaya in Kotawaringin, BGA is driving CSR programs that not only address short-term needs, but also serve as a continuous process to strengthen community capacity,” he said in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Friday (23/1/2026).
According to Johan, this approach lays an essential foundation for villages to develop greater self-reliance and long-term economic resilience.
Strategic Support for Welfare and Plasma Replanting Preparation
Sekolah Desa Berdaya is also viewed as a strategic step by BGA to contribute to community welfare, especially in preparing for the replanting phase of plasma smallholders’ plantations. During replanting, economic pressures can increase as the replanting cycle requires time before oil palm trees become productive again.
To address this challenge, Sekolah Desa Berdaya encourages economic diversification, ensuring that village income sources are not dependent on a single commodity. The initiative is designed to open up alternative business opportunities while strengthening village economic resilience.
Introduced Since July 2025, Built Around Three Key Focus Areas
The introduction of Sekolah Desa Berdaya in Central Kalimantan began in July 2025, with three main focus areas:
- Improving productivity of independent oil palm smallholders
- Developing productive community-based economic activities
- Strengthening low-carbon village development
To date, BGA has conducted five batches of Productive Economy training, with learning clusters covering horticulture, livestock, and food processing. Beyond knowledge transfer, the training has also fostered collaboration among village communities to build more diverse economic activities.
The program has received positive responses from both communities and local government. During the inauguration, the Regent of Kotawaringin Barat—represented by the Assistant Regent for Administration—expressed optimism about expanding cooperation with BGA across broader regional development programs. Strong government support is considered critical in ensuring empowerment efforts become integrated into regional development strategies.
Poklahsar–Hypermart and PNM Partnerships to Expand Market and Financing Access
At the same event, several strategic partnerships were formalized through the signing of agreements. These included cooperation between Poklahsar Maju Mapan Belitung Laut and Hypermart as a marketing partner for local products, as well as a partnership with PNM to expand access to financing.
These collaborations aim to strengthen the continuity of village-based economic activities, especially for MSMEs that require wider market networks and more accessible funding support.
Bumitama CSR Department Head Rizki Munadhil stressed the importance of collaboration in improving the overall quality and sustainability of MSMEs supported under CSR programs.
“CSR encourages higher success standards for assisted MSMEs, starting from entrepreneurs’ competencies, financing, and marketing, by partnering with external parties at both local and national levels to ensure sustainability,” Rizki explained.
Through the expansion of Sekolah Desa Berdaya in Kotawaringin, BGA reinforces its commitment to inclusive and sustainable empowerment. The company underlined that the program goes beyond training—it is designed to build a stronger village ecosystem by enhancing community capacity, creating new economic opportunities, expanding market access, and strengthening financing support, ultimately laying the foundation for long-term village self-reliance and regional development. (T2)
