Press Release

Lahat, September 2, 2026 – A new routine has filled the days of Amat Surman at his home in Sirah Pulau Village, Merapi Timur District, Lahat Regency. Morning, afternoon, and evening, the 72-year-old spends time making sure his chickens have enough feed and water. Every two days, he also cleans the coop beside his house.

The productive activity is now beginning to bear fruit. The chickens have started laying eggs, opening up an opportunity for Amat to earn additional income for his family. Until recently, he had no steady source of work.

“Before I started raising these chickens, I was basically unemployed because I didn’t have a permanent job. For our daily needs, I still depended on my children,” he said.

Raising livestock is not new to Amat. Since elementary school, he has been familiar with keeping chickens, ducks, and goats. This time, however, he has an opportunity to turn that long-standing experience into a productive activity with the potential to generate income.

Amat is one of the beneficiaries of PT Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk (PTBA)’s Community Development and Empowerment Program (PPM). The household layer-chicken farming initiative in Sirah Pulau is part of the company’s efforts to strengthen food security while supporting household economic resilience. At the initial stage, each beneficiary received 12 chickens, one sack of feed, and a new coop built near their homes.

The chickens were selected at the ready-to-lay stage so beneficiaries could see the results sooner. They were initially expected to start laying eggs around the 24th day. In practice, however, the chickens began laying eggs as early as the 16th day. By August 31, 2026—23 days after distribution—the chickens had adapted well and started producing eggs.

The early production has been welcomed by the beneficiaries. In addition to providing an extra source of food for their families, the eggs have encouraged them to develop the activity further, with the hope that it will generate greater economic benefits for households, including Amat’s.

PTBA Corporate Secretary Division Head Eko Prayitno said the chickens beginning to lay eggs marked an important stage of the initiative, as the economic benefits of the activity were beginning to be felt directly by the community.

“We are grateful that the layer-chicken farming initiative in Sirah Pulau Village is showing positive progress. The chickens we initially provided as part of our support have now started laying eggs. This is a good first step, as the community is beginning to see the results of an activity they manage themselves,” Eko said.

He added that community empowerment is not simply about providing assistance, but about building people’s capabilities and independence so that the businesses they develop can continue to grow over the long term.

“What we want to build is a business ecosystem that can grow independently. That is why, in addition to providing chickens and supporting facilities, PTBA also provides training and mentoring. This way, beneficiaries do not simply receive assistance; they also gain the knowledge and skills needed to manage the business sustainably,” Eko explained.

PTBA Sustainability Division Head Dedy Saptaria Rosa said the chickens’ early production was an important momentum to strengthen the community’s business capacity, from production management and animal health to egg marketing.

He added that developing layer-chicken farming has strategic value, as it can potentially increase household incomes while supporting the availability of nutritious food at the local level.

“We hope this initiative can grow from a household-scale activity into a collective business that creates greater value for the people of Sirah Pulau Village. In addition to generating income, the eggs produced can also help meet the food needs of the surrounding community,” he said.

The layer-chicken farming initiative is a collaboration between PTBA and Rumah Kreatif Sriwijaya as the implementing partner, with the involvement of experts in layer-chicken farming. The initiative also receives support from the Community Development and Empowerment Forum (FP2M) and the Sirah Pulau Village Government.

As a follow-up, site surveys have been conducted in nearby villages within the company’s Ring 1 area in preparation for corn cultivation and the development of a self-sufficient feed mill. The initiative is expected to help establish a more efficient and sustainable layer-chicken farming ecosystem.

As egg production continues to grow, so too does the potential for greater economic opportunities. For Amat, the chickens represent the beginning of a new hope: earning an income of his own after previously relying on support from his children.

“Thank you to PTBA. We are grateful for the assistance. I hope it won’t stop at 12 chickens. If we could receive more chickens and feed, hopefully that could be provided soon. If the number of chickens increases and production improves, we could earn more income,” Amat said.