Bangkalan (24/9) – PT Pelindo Marine Service (Pelindo Marine) has expanded its fresh water distribution network, which was built last year to assist dryland farmers in Socah Village, Bangkalan, Madura Island, East Java. The farmers of Peddes Hamlet in Petaonan Village, who benefit from the water installation under Pelindo Marine’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, have named the project ‘Sumber Air Berkah’ (Blessed Water Source).
On Tuesday (24/9), Fahrudin, the CSR Coordinator from the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, visited the well installation, electric pump, and water tank while attending a thanksgiving ceremony with the local farmers. He was accompanied by Febrianto Zenny Sulistyo, Pelindo's CSR Program Head, and Lia Indi Agustiana, Finance, HR, and Risk Management Director of Pelindo Marine.
Alfarobi Hasan, a representative of the local farmers, expressed gratitude to Pelindo for their continuous support since 2023. He explained how the dryland, which was previously cultivated only once a year and left barren the rest of the time, has now become more productive.
"With ‘Sumber Air Berkah’ from Pelindo Marine, we are now able to harvest rice two to three times a year, and we’re even experimenting with corn cultivation. The surplus production has opened the farmers' eyes to the economic potential, and we’re now able to increase our income, helping fund our children's education," Alfarobi shared.
Fahrudin emphasized that Pelindo Marine’s CSR program takes a multidimensional approach. What began as an environmental initiative to address dryland issues has evolved into boosting agricultural production, encouraging farmers to trade their surplus for economic benefits, and ultimately providing sustainable impacts, such as improving access to education through additional income.
“This program aligns with the Ministry of SOEs’ CSR priorities in the areas of environmental sustainability, economic empowerment (especially for micro and small enterprises), and education. The hope is that this model can be replicated in other areas, making it not only sustainable but also scalable,” Fahrudin said.
Febrianto Zenny Sulistyo added that Pelindo’s commitment to enhancing the project’s impact led to the installation of a broader piping network. “With this expansion, the water distribution will increase from irrigating 2 hectares to covering up to 7-10 hectares, benefiting 50 to 75 farmers compared to the initial 20. More farmers involved also means operational costs and labor are shared, as the system is managed through a collaborative effort,” he explained.
