PT Great Giant Pineapple (GGP), Terbanggi Besar, Central Lampung, welcomed the visiting team of PT Bukit Muria Jaya (BMJ) West Karawang, Friday (25/8).

The arrival of BMJ as a cigarette paper industry company at GGP aims to explore cooperation in developing fiber from banana trees (gedebok, ed) as an innovative product that is being planned and will be developed. The arrival of BMJ management representatives was warmly received by the Director of External Affairs Welly Soegiono accompanied by Corporate Affairs Lampung Subdiv Head Hendri Tanujaya in the Dining Room Training Center of Great Giant Foods (GGF).

In his explanation, David Gunawan as Government & External Relations Manager of BMJ explained that almost every part of the banana tree can be used, starting from the stem, tuber, skin, leaves and heart of the banana. “As science and technology develop, people are starting to innovate by using waste from banana trees for various purposes. “The waste from banana stems can add economic value by being processed into paper making materials,” said David.

Banana stem fiber or banana stems are very suitable to be used as raw material for making paper because they are easy to obtain and easy to make. The paper produced also varies according to texture and thickness which is balanced with the needs of the paper, he added.

He added that the technology used to make paper from banana stems is quite simple, because it only requires a knife, scissors, blender, rolling pin (wooden roller), table (a surface with a clean cloth can be used) and clear plastic. “Banana stems are of course very easy to obtain raw materials. “Banana stems with a thickness of 3cm have a diameter of between 17 and 25cm, and the water can be processed to make paper,” he said.

Meanwhile, Welly Soegiono, explained that banana stems (ares, ed.) are still used as additional animal feed, in this case fattening beef cattle. “What has been done, especially at the Pisang Mas partnership farmers in Tanggamus, is that banana areas are used for additional feed conversion for the beef cattle fattening program. “And the results are quite good, being able to increase the weight of cows,” he explained.

“What if there is a banana stem that has pesticides applied to it, isn’t it dangerous if it is processed into cigarette paper?” Hendri asked during the conversation. In response to this question, David answered that after becoming an innovative product, in this case cigarette paper is of course safe, because there is a process of processing the raw material starting from drying and cleaning until it actually becomes a product that is safe to use.

At the end of the visit, the group had the opportunity to inspect a stretch of banana plantation located in the Estate Plantation Group 1 garden. The overview thoroughly explored all aspects of the plantation, from plant maintenance techniques to sustainable management of natural resources

Archipelago Flowers and Fruit 2023. This seminar was organized by IPB Agronomy and Horticulture students in a special committee for the Archipelago Flower and Fruit Festival.

This seminar aims to broaden insight, improve soft skills and deepen knowledge for IPB University Agronomy and Horticulture students, the academic community, students in general, flower and fruit business actors or micro business actors to new micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The seminar is filled with speakers who are competent in their fields with the aim of providing new knowledge, motivation, and opening up participants’ mindsets. It is hoped that this activity can broaden students’ insight into the use of technology in the Indonesian flower and fruit business and provide a platform for them to network. The National Seminar on the Archipelago Flower and Fruit Festival was held at the Toyib Hadiwijaya Auditorium (19/8).

The activity began with a speech from the Dean of Faperta, then filled with Keynote Speaker by the Director General of Horticulture, Dr. Ir. Prihasto Setyanto, M.Sc.

Next there was an explanation of the material by 3 speakers, namely from Great Giant Foods to explain the Indonesian fruit industry, Pelita Desa Nursery as the speaker who would explain the flower industry, Dr.Ir. Emmy Darmawati, M.si lecturer at IPB University.

Thus, a seminar that highlights the use of technology in the Indonesian flower and fruit business has great potential to provide broad benefits to participants

PT Great Giant Pineapple (PT GGP), Terbanggi Besar, received a visit from the Lampung Financial Services Authority in the context of developing and financing potential superior products related to production with a plasma core pattern and circular economy for PT GGP’s mas banana farmers in Tanggamus Regency, Wednesday (9/ 8).

Present to meet Bambang Hermanto as chief guest of the OJK group, including Head of Finance, Accounting and Tax Ferdy Fu, Corporate Affairs Lampung Subdiv Head Hendri Tanujaya, and Tanggamus Operation Department Head Waliyuddin in the PT GGP guest house meeting room. At the meeting, Tanggamus banana partner farmers were also present.

Ferdy Fu explained about the circular economy that has been running at Great Giant Foods (GGF) so far through PT Great Giant Pineapple and PT Great Giant Livestock (PT GGL) in partnership with farmers and breeders.

Ferdy further said that farmers and breeders have had credit facilities from Bank BRI which are known and documented by GGF, which means there is an agreement between the farmer or breeder and BRI and individually with GGF.

“The problem faced by farmers so far is the availability of fertilizer. “Farmers have difficulty getting fertilizer,” said Ferdy.

As far as the company knows, through cooperatives farmers can obtain fertilizer easily through KUR Agriculture. The KUR program consists of several types, namely micro KUR, retail KUR, small KUR and special KUR.

This business credit is to help farmers with capital in managing gardens or crop land, such as fertilizing, considering that so far the seeds have been provided by PT GGP so that in the production process they can produce quality agricultural products.

For Super Micro KUR facilities without a maximum limit, as long as the quota for each region is still available and the subsequent application requirements are still met. Meanwhile, BRI Micro KUR specifically for agricultural or fisheries businesses can apply for loans up to 4 times with a maximum accumulation of IDR 500 million.

Also discussed at the meeting were the KUR Linkage Program (Executing), KUR Linkage Program (Channelling), and KUR Micro with a maximum credit ceiling of IDR 20 million. People’s Business Credit in the agricultural sector is the government’s effort to advance Indonesia’s agricultural sector.

Human Resources and General Affairs (HRGA) Great Giant Foods (GGF) gives appreciation and awards to the Best GGF Club Trainers. Awards are given based on teaching hours and material presented.

The award charter was signed by Director of HRGA Rina Faqih, implicitly as an expression of gratitude from GGF management for the trainers’ contribution to the experience, knowledge and time shared to help build competent and high-performing employees.

The award for best trainers was given to Oky Dwiyanto (Agritech), Priyo Cahyono (PMO), Suharno (QSI), and Bambang Sutejo (QSI). The award certificate was handed over directly by Managing Director Wayan Ardana at the GGP Training Center, Tuesday (29/8).

“The existence and contribution of the Trainers Club is very valuable for GGF and its employees. And I thank HRD for providing a forum for training activities to empower human resources. “Hopefully in the future it will continue and be even better,” said Wayan Ardana after giving the award.

Furthermore, Wayan emphasized that training programs are very important. According to him, companies with labor intensive, human resource empowerment programs by providing an understanding of what is done both technically and in management are very important because everything behind it is humans.

“If the company’s human resources lack understanding, it will definitely cause performance problems. “I am very grateful because GGF has many employees who are qualified as trainers, so there is no need to look outside,” explained Priyo as one of the award recipients.

“Now I am creating a curriculum for the Plantation Academy with the aim of transferring knowledge. When we retire, this generation will continue and will be ready with knowledge, knowledge and experience.