Reviewing Santripreneur Activities at Ponpes Teknologi Riau, Vice President Expects Islamic Boarding Schools to Become Community Empowerment Centers

Pekanbaru, wapresri.go.id – After inaugurating Bank Riau Kepri as Bank Riau Kepri Syariah, Vice President (VP) K.H. Ma’ruf Amin reviewed the activities of palm-based Santripreneurs at the Riau Technology Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes), Jalan Lintas Sumatra Number 20, Pekanbaru, Riau, Thursday (25/08/2022).

In the event collaborated with APKASINDO (Association of Indonesian Oil Palm Farmers), the VP carried out the first harvest of the santri palm oil nurseries; planting hybrid oil palm seedlings with 100 students from various Islamic boarding schools who came from Aceh to Papua; as well as the introduction of processing technology for red edible oil (M3) plant.

In addition, the VP also witnessed the symbolic handover by the Governor of Riau Syamsuar, the donation of 10,000 oil palm sprouts to the Riau Technology Boarding School Manager. This donation came from Sinarmas with 5,000 sprouts (DxP Damimas type) and Surya Dumai with 5,000 sprouts (DxP First Resources). These sprouts will be bred by Santripreneurs and will then be distributed to the community’s palm oil rejuvenation program.

“I think this is a very good collaboration and involves students. We really want Islamic boarding schools to become centers of community economic empowerment, both in the financial economy sector, the real sector, as well as the production sector,” he said.

The VP further said that palm oil only grows in Indonesia and Malaysia. For that, this potential must be utilized.

“This palm only [grows] in Indonesia and Malaysia which the world does not have, this is potential. But if we don’t develop this and continue to innovate its products, it will certainly not provide benefits,” the VP reminded.

Present to accompany the VP were the Head of the Vice President’s Secretariat Ahmad Erani Yustika, Deputy for Government Policy Support and National Insight Felix Wanggai, Special Staff for the VP for Communication and Information Masduki Baidlowi, and the Expert Team of the VP Johan Tedja Surya, Farhan Brachma, and Iggi Haruman Achsien. (NN/LHS – BPMI, Setwapres)