Terbanggi Besar, Central Lampung – PT Great Giant Pineapple (GGP) welcomed a visit from PT Bukit Muria Jaya (BMJ), a cigarette paper manufacturer based in West Karawang, on Friday (25/8). The visit aimed to explore collaboration opportunities in developing banana stem (gedebok) fiber as an innovative and sustainable raw material for paper products.

The BMJ delegation was received by GGP Director of External Affairs, Welly Soegiono, together with Hendri Tanujaya, Corporate Affairs Lampung Subdivision Head, at the Great Giant Foods (GGF) Training Center.

David Gunawan, BMJ’s Government & External Relations Manager, explained that nearly every part of the banana tree holds economic potential. “Banana stems are especially suitable as paper-making material. They are abundant, easy to process, and can produce paper with diverse textures and thicknesses,” he said.

Currently, GGP utilizes banana stems (ares) as supplementary cattle feed within its Pisang Mas partnership program in Tanggamus. “This practice has proven effective in supporting beef cattle fattening programs by contributing to weight gain,” added Welly.

The discussion also addressed safety concerns related to pesticide exposure on banana stems. David assured that the processing stages — including drying and thorough cleaning — ensure the material is safe before being transformed into cigarette paper.

The visit concluded with a field tour of GGP’s banana plantation in Estate Plantation Group 1, where BMJ representatives observed sustainable plantation management practices.

Terbanggi Besar, August 9, 2023 – PT Great Giant Pineapple (PT GGP), a subsidiary of Great Giant Foods (GGF), welcomed a visit from the Lampung Financial Services Authority (OJK) to explore financing schemes and circular economy practices for partner banana farmers in Tanggamus Regency.

The delegation was led by Bambang Hermanto, Chief Representative of OJK Lampung, and was received by Ferdy Fu (Head of Finance, Accounting & Tax PT GGP), Hendri Tanujaya (Head of Corporate Affairs Lampung Subdivision), and Waliyuddin (Head of Tanggamus Operation Department) at PT GGP’s Guest House meeting room. Several Tanggamus partner banana farmers also joined the discussion.

During the session, Ferdy Fu explained how GGF has implemented a circular economy model through PT GGP and PT Great Giant Livestock (PT GGL), in collaboration with local farmers and breeders.

“Currently, farmers and breeders already have access to credit facilities from Bank BRI, which are recognized and documented by GGF. This reflects an agreement between the farmers, BRI, and GGF,” said Ferdy.

One of the main challenges raised was the availability of fertilizers, which farmers often struggle to access. Ferdy noted that cooperatives can help ease access through the Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR) Agriculture program, which provides working capital loans to support farming operations.

The KUR program offers several schemes, including Micro KUR, Retail KUR, Small KUR, and Special KUR. These facilities are designed to support farmers in managing their land—such as fertilization—while PT GGP continues to supply quality seeds to ensure strong yields.

Among the financing options:

• Super Micro KUR: No maximum loan limit, depending on quota availability and requirements.

• BRI Micro KUR: Specifically for agriculture and fisheries, offering loans up to four cycles with a cumulative ceiling of IDR 500 million.

• KUR Linkage (Executing & Channelling) and KUR Micro: With ceilings up to IDR 20 million.

These facilities are part of the government’s broader effort to advance Indonesia’s agricultural sector through increased access to financing, empowering farmers, and strengthening food security.