Exploring Eco-Innovation and Sustainability in Astra Agro’s Oil Palm Plantations

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Last week, on July 11-12, Kaltim Post had the opportunity to see the working atmosphere and housing complexes of Astra Agro Lestari's (AAL) oil palm plantation subsidiaries, PT Borneo Indah Marjaya (BIM) and PT Palma Platasindo (PPS) in Paser Regency.

The location is in Laburan Village, Paser Belengkong Sub-district, about an hour from the capital of Tanah Grogot Sub-district. The Kaltim Post team acquired a lot of new knowledge during the two-day tour of the plantation and its housing complex. One of the unique methods implemented by the company is utilizing owls (Tyto Alba) as rat pest control.

"This presents a potential alternative for pest control in oil palm plantations, including for PT BIM-PPS."
To improve effectiveness, the company has added more numbers to the Tyto Alba population by placing a pair of owls and a nest in every 20 hectares of proximity.

Currently, PT BIM has 286 active owl nests with a total population of 490 birds. Meanwhile, at PT PPS, there are 188 active cages with a population of 230 owls. Owl conservation at PT BIM-PPS is also one of the most successful programs in the AAL group. Many other plantation companies in the AAL group follow the success of PT BIM-PPS in managing owls.

In addition to seeing the owl cultivation, Kaltim Post had been invited to visit the PT BIM housing complex. Here, the wives of workers who live in the housing estate have productive activities besides taking care of the household. They manage household waste and turn it into economically valuable goods by building a waste bank. The company's zero-burning waste target is slowly being realized. No waste is burned.

Plastic waste is processed into valuable goods, while organic waste is turned into compost. The community ensures guarantees that garbage is not scattered throughout the housing complex. Everything is well managed. The last visit on the first day was to the Integrated Service Post in the housing complex. Although it is located in the garden and far from the Puskesmas, the Integrated Service Post here is very complete in terms of facilities and cadre readiness.

All babies and toddlers in the housing complex are guaranteed health. The monthly check-up schedule is also always on time.
The Integrated Service Post cadres provide many programs to parents. The parents whose baby's growth and development progress is the fastest will be rewarded.

The indicator is seen from the weight of infants and toddlers. The development of infant to toddler growth and development is very much considered, so parents can focus on work.

Source: Kaltim Post