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Merauke, July 14–16, 2025 – Demonstrating its commitment to supporting local economic empowerment, PT Bio Inti Agrindo (PT BIA) held a Rubber Field School themed “Learning to Tap, Harvesting Hope.” The program engaged 78 participants from eight villages in the Muting and Ulilin districts, marking a crucial first step in unlocking the untapped potential of natural rubber in the area.

The three-day training, held from July 14 to 16, 2025, was organized across three regional clusters based on village proximity. The activities took place in the Selil Cluster; the Waan Cluster, which includes Waan, Kolam, and Selauw Villages; and the Muting Cluster, which comprises Muting, Pachas, Boha, and Kindiki Villages.

Participants were local villagers who already cultivate rubber trees and expressed interest in improving the management of their plantations. They were directly mentored by technical experts from Perumda Kahyangan, (a regional government-owned company based in Jember, East Java), to learn proper and sustainable tapping techniques. In addition to enhancing technical skills, the training emphasized the importance of maintaining healthy and productive rubber plantations.

“Tapping is not just about cutting bark — it’s about carving a path to a better future. The right technique keeps trees healthy and opens up opportunities for families to increase their income,” said the Economic Program Coordinator – ECCDP of PT BIA during the event’s opening session.

Beyond hands-on field practice, the training also featured interactive discussions, providing a platform for participants to share experiences and address the challenges they face in rubber tapping. This participatory learning atmosphere fostered collaboration and a shared spirit of progress toward stronger local livelihoods.

PT BIA hopes that the Rubber Field School will encourage optimal use of the community’s existing rubber plantations, leading to increased production and improved latex quality. Beyond strengthening the position of local farmers in the rubber value chain, the program also aims to lay the groundwork for rubber tapping to become a viable and sustainable family enterprise across South Papua.