26 April 2021
The native Amungme tribe, Octo Magai, has successfully developed a hydroponic garden business in SP3, Karang Senang Village, Kuala Kencana District, Mimika, Papua. Octo started the business from his gardening hobby which now produces fresh vegetables which are supplied to PT Freeport Indonesia through PT. Main Sari Food.
This business can be an opportunity for the Timika community because it is easy to handle.This business is also expected to be supported by the Mimika Regency Government through related agencies so that its development can be faster.
From this venture, he employs 50 employees with a very decent salary. To Salam Papua on Wednesday (21/4/2021), Octo explained that he had started his business since 2014.
The beginning of his interest with the business when he saw about hydroponic ventures on the internet. In addition, he saw a good opportunity from this business because no local vegetables had been supplied to Freeport.
"I think in Timika almost all the food sources needed can be provided. For instance, the farms in Utikini and other farms in several places. They have supplied the meat and eggs to Tembagapura. There are also some cocoa plantations, why don't we provide vegetables rather than imported from other cities? Therefore, I use this hydroponic garden business opportunity, "said Octo, who is also the owner of PT Namul Jaya Semesta who manages the plantation, on Wednesday (21/4/2021).
In his plantation, Octo employs 50 Papuan and non-Papuan employees, most of whom do not have formal educational background.
"They work here without submitting application letter. They only need to come with their ID card, have enthusiasm for work and I will accept them. Their salaries are above the UMR and there is always a bonus to receive," he said.
He said the 50 employees were divided into several sections, namely 15 men and 15 people working on hydroponic plantations and 20 people working in the warehouse and shipping section. "I do not see their ethnicity and race. Here, there are Papuans and non-Papuans. All of my employees work very well so that this business can run well too," he said.
He said that in the hydroponic plantation business, which has 62 thousand holes in the pipe, he planted vegetables with salad, mustard greens, water spinach, spinach and cabbage.
The vegetables are accommodated by the Muljaya Papua Food Cooperative which is still under management with PT Namul Jaya Semesta and then supplied to PT Pangan Sari Utama to fulfill the vegetable needs of all employees working in the PT Freeport Indonesia area.
In addition to developing his current hydroponic business, Octo, who has a position at Freeport as General Superintendent Industrial Relations, has 8 hydroponic plantation assisted groups in 6 locations, namely Limau Asri SP5 Village, Wonosari Jaya SP4 Village, Jalan Budi Utomo, Timika Jaya SP2 Village, Jalan Irrigation and at Mile 32.
"So, every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we harvest these vegetables and accommodate them to the Muljaya Papua Food cooperative. Later they will also accommodate vegetables and fruits from our assisted groups and other local farmers who work with us. "Then supplied to Tembagapura through Pangan Sari to meet the needs of all people who work in the PT Freeport Indonesia area. Especially in this hydroponic plantation, every month we can harvest about 4 tons," he explained.
The yield of 4 tons of harvest is still not sufficient for the vegetable needs of employees who work at PT Freeport Indonesia, because the need for vegetables in the area is 20 tons, so Octo plans to open a new hydroponic plantation.
"I plan to develop it again so that, all the vegetable needed will be coming from Timika. There is no need to import it from outside cities. Thus, we also absorb more and more workers," he said. He added that his hydroponic garden has also become a practice site for several vocational schools in Timika.
"Every year, there are several vocational schools that send their students to study here. There are students who practice here for three to four months. After practicing, we give them certificates and also pocket money so that they are more enthusiastic to learn," he said.
He said, from this plantation business, the turnover he generated every month reached Rp. 200 million to Rp. 500 million. "If the weather is good, there are no damaged vegetables, our turnover is good," he said.
On this occasion, he thanked to PT Freeport Indonesia for the support for his business so far. "Especially Mr. Brian Eser and PTFI Senior Management who have supported me in this endeavor. Thank you also to PT Pangan Sari Utama for receiving vegetables from this hydroponic garden," he said. Currently, 8 retirees from Freeport's contractor work in Octo's plantation. They are very happy to be able to keep working and productive after retiring.
Ambarak Fimbay, a retired Freeport employee who worked for 30 years at Port site, admitted that he is happy to be working again on this hydroponic plantation. "I like working here rather than at home.
Working here, I am feeling healthier," he said. Meanwhile, Mama Yulita, a Papuan mother, also admitted that she was happy to be working in that place. In addition to get good income, according to Mama Yulita, she also meets kind and caring co-workers.
"In here, we are taught how to work, the people are kind and caring for each other. We have high monthly income and get boanuses. We can comfortably and calmly work here, even though I did not go to school at all and have title," she said.
Source: salampapua.com
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