Tanjung, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Thanks to the Adaro Santri Sejahtera Program (PASS), the Nurul Muhibbin Islamic Boarding School (pesantren) was able to develop Japanese soybean cultivation, even this year they have the second harvest.
"Alhamdulilah (Praise be to Allah) this year we have another harvest," said Mukhlis, manager of edamame garden in Nurul Muhibbin Islamic Boarding School, Halong sub-district, Balangan District, South Kalimantan Province, Monday (31/7).
It has been a year that Mukhlis together with santri (pesantren students) engaged in edamame cultivation by utilizing the land around the pesantren.
Edamame that was planted three months ago can now be harvested and marketed to buyers.
The first harvest of about 37 kilograms from a 50 square meters garden was the fruit of skill they gained from PASS in developing business.
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The Adaro Santri Sejahtera Program (PASS) was a collaboration of Adaro and University of Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) in a matching fund scheme to assist the pesantren business development process.
Through this program, Mukhlis and santri, who are members of the Islamic Boarding School Business Management Board, learned to cultivate edamame which is known to be rich of benefits.
"This year we manage our edamame business independently with provision of skill and knowledge from participating PASS," said Mukhlis.
Seeds procurement, land management to festizer supply are managed directly by pesantren without the help of other parties.
He said that the beginning of PASS facilitation, edamame harvest in pesantren was abundant as a replica implementation of YABN organic farming program in Tabalong District.
Beans from pods that have a high selling value is very potential to continue to be developed and Mukhlis is motivated to continue this agribusiness with santri.
"Currently the selling price is IDR20,000 per kg and in the future we will expand our marketing," said Mukhlis.
Related news: Adaro's fostered boarding school successful in edamame farming
YABN Chairman Adjie Sapta also hopes for edamame business in Nurul Muhibbin to continue considering the selling price is quite high while the production cost is not high.
"Capital for planting edamame is not too high, but the yield is abundant, thus it is very potential to be developed," Adjie explained.
Besides being able to expand the planting area, the manager also expands its market so that people know better about edamame that contains quite high nutrition.
Adjie optimistic that this commodity will be accepted by market, because the benefits of edamame are quite a lot for consumers health.
These benefits include lowering evil cholesterol, healthy digestive tract with fiber and protein content to maintain ideal body weight.
Rina Ermadeni as staff of Adaro Nyalakan Budaya & Lestari (Adaro Turn on Culture and Sustainability) as well as a special PIC PASS in agriculture said that this year the pesantren is already independent in terms of budget and implementation in running edamame cultivation business.
"YABN team only monitors the business they managed and discussion partner for santri," said Rina.(Adv)
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