TASIKMALAYA, WEST JAVA — On Friday (3/31/23), Dompet Dhuafa through the Jembar Social Trust Fund (STF) Consumer Cooperative, in collaboration with UPZ DK (Unit Pengelola Zakat Dana Kebaikan or Zakat Kindness Funds Management Unit) PermataBank Syariah, inaugurated the opening of an organic broiler farming centre located in Sukasetia Village, Cisayong District, Tasikmalaya.
The hybrid event was attended by several representatives of Dompet Dhuafa, Chairman of STF Jembar Cooperative, Casmedi, Head of Livestock Group, Agus M. Gozali, Head of Sukasetia Village, Tatang Saputra and other beneficiaries. Also present through the Zoom meeting, Habibullah as Chairman of UPZ DK PermataBank Syariah, Marketing Communication PermataBank Syariah, Frieza Diana, and UPZ DK Operations, Nina Marliani.
This inauguration was carried out symbolically by cutting the ribbon and visiting one of the cages to see firsthand the situation of the two-week-old livestock chickens.
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Armie Robi, as SO of the Dompet Dhuafa Economic Development Program, said that the implementation of this program was thanks to the collaboration with UPZ DK PermataBank Syariah, which had been willing to give the mandate to Dompet Dhuafa to run a poultry empowerment program, like last year.
The types of chickens managed by this farm are organic chickens. According to Armie Robi’s explanation, organic chicken does not use factory chemicals but healthy chicken feed. He also shared that because organic chickens manage the chickens, there is no pungent smell around the cage.
“I have visited one of the pens managed by the cattle group. There is no strong smell, farmers may also experience the livestock managed in pen is not like conventional livestock, where a distance of two or three meters before the cage usually has a pungent smell, “said Armie.
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Armie also expressed his hope that the program can provide benefits and revive our community again from the post-Covid-19 downturn.
“God willing, this can be a reward for our donors,” he said.
Chairman of the Jembar STF Cooperative, Casmedi also expressed his hope that, hopefully, the organic chicken farming program can be a solution for chicken farmers in the future and help restore the economy.
“Because after Covid-19, we feel the impact for MSME players is very felt. But hopefully, in the future with the testament of this meeting, all sectors of the economy can be revived and made it easier again,” explained Casmedi.
Related to this, Tatang Saputra as the Head of Sukasetia Village also conveyed his message, “We must rise after two years of the economy almost paralyzed due to Covid-19. Therefore, we as policymakers, God willing, can help so that the organic chicken livestock program can develop and later help the Tasikmalaya economy.”
Agus M. Gazali, Chairman of the Livestock Group, also said that he wants animal husbandry to continue through this program.
“We are not grandiose in wanting to pursue a large income, we just hope that this farm can continue, maybe even not only felt by us, but also by our children and grandchildren. We also continue to try to continue to produce chicken well and healthily, it is one of our efforts to produce halal toyiban products,” Agus explained.
Organic chicken farming is also welcomed by farmers, one of which is by Koko (70). He said “Alhamdulillah, I feel proud and happy, hopefully the assistance from Dompet Dhuafa and PermataBank Syariah will continue, especially for young people, considering that I am old, hopefully it will be a blessing,” Koko said hopefully.
Also present was Hasbullah as Chairman of UPZ DK PermataBank Syariah, he further conveyed that the funds obtained for each program with Dompet Dhuafa came from zakat funds and benevolent funds of Permata Bank Syariah.
“The funds we get come from zakat and benevolent funds. The zakat fund itself comes from Permata Bank Syariah, for example, we have profit and profit, then we set aside 2.5% for zakat, in addition to zakat from employees and customers. The Virtue Fund comes from our customers who are subject to sanctions or fines for discipline. We make it again as income, but we return it to the community through empowerment programs, such as the one we launched with Dompet Dhuafa today,” said Hasbullah.
Closing his remarks at this activity, Hasbullah also expressed his hope, “We UPZ DK would like to thank Dompet Dhuafa for helping us distribute the funds we collect to people in need. Hopefully, the funds distributed through existing programs will be useful for all and blessings for donors, PermataBank Syariah. As well as being able to run well, smoothly and generate blessed profits as well. Hopefully, it can also create other chicken farmers and more people will be helped by this program,” he concluded.
The launching of the organic livestock chicken program was then continued with ribbon scissors as a symbol that the program was officially opened with a million expectations from donors, organizers, and farmers. Before breaking the fast, the event continued with a friendly session from Dompet Dhuafa with farmers who wanted to discuss further until the time for breaking the fast arrived, closing the activity. (Dompet Dhuafa/Awalia R)