Supporting Food Security Program, PGN - BRIN - Semarang City Government Develop 100 Hectares of Biosaline Rice Land in North Semarang Coast

Semarang – PT PGN Tbk, as a Subholding Gas Pertamina, supports the government’s food security program through the cultivation of biosaline rice on the northern coast of Semarang, specifically in Mangunharjo Village, Tugu District, Semarang City. In this initiative, PGN has partnered with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Semarang City Government.

This program is part of the Smart Farming Biosaline Research 1 and 2 collaboration between the Semarang City Government and BRIN in 2024, implemented by the Sumber Rejeki Farmers Group in Mangunharjo Village, Tugu District.

Biosaline rice is a variety of rice that is resistant to high salt concentrations. It is planted on a 100-hectare coastal area, with 20 hectares of this land being previously idle. BRIN has also collaborated with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) to expedite land preparation.

Nugroho Nur Susanto, Head of the SPBPDH Research Center at BRIN, stated that BRIN works with all stakeholders to support government programs through research and scientific development. "We hope that the results of our research can be applied and benefit the community, as we are doing today with the Semarang City Government and PGN. The cultivation of Biosaline rice is expected to improve food security in Semarang City," he said.

The condition of the northern Java coastal land is very abrasive and less fertile, as sea water continues to erode the coastal soil, leading to high salt concentrations. Biosaline rice is suitable for revitalizing such coastal land. This effort also aims to green the northern Semarang coastline again.

"This Biosaline program is a form of support for the food self-sufficiency program, and there are 400 hectares of similar land that can be planted with Biosaline varieties. This program also supports the 2045 Golden Indonesia program," said Semarang Mayor Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu, who was present at the Biosaline planting event in Semarang on December 21, 2024.

PGN's CSR support includes the development of Biosaline rice production, which will take place from December 2024 to April 2025. This includes providing seeds and fertilizers, followed by post-harvest assistance and seed processing, which will continue until December 2025.

"PGN's role in Biosaline cultivation is part of PGN’s commitment to providing social and environmental benefits to the surrounding community. By utilizing idle land, this is also part of PGN’s support for maintaining food security, in line with the President of Indonesia’s food security program," said PGN's Director of Infrastructure and Technology, Harry Budi Sidharta, during the same event.

Harry continued, saying that Biosaline cultivation also provides a solution for addressing salinity-affected land in Semarang City, especially in Tugu District. For instance, in 2021, a harvest failure occurred on 50 hectares of land in Tugu due to seawater intrusion. After that event, the affected rice fields were abandoned and could no longer be cultivated.

The cultivation of Biosaline rice is expected to thrive and produce high-quality harvests, benefiting the local community. Additionally, this cultivation is expected to provide job opportunities for farm workers.

PGN remains committed to ensuring that its CSR activities have a positive impact on the community. Not only does PGN provide natural gas as an environmentally friendly energy solution, but its presence also helps improve the welfare of the community through various positive initiatives.

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