InfoSAWIT, SIMPANG EMPAT - The Regency of Pasaman Barat, West Sumatera Province took some palm oil companies and banks to accelerate their corporate social responsibility (CSR) program to conquer poverty and solve stunting issues in the region.

Regent of Pasaman Barat, Hamsuardi said that some companies took part to support the regional government. “We came to the companies in this regency to get cooperation and conquer poverty, solve stunting, and eliminate extreme poverty issues,” Hamsuardi said, Wednesday (11/9) in Simpang Empat.

He thought, the extreme poverty numbers in the regency were high still based on the data of penyasaran percepatan penghapusan kemiskinan ekstrem (P3KE). "Last year, we just made it 0,7 percent. Some companies, such as, Wilmar Group, delivered its CSR program in 2023 for four villages, they were, Mandiangin, Bayur Kabung, Panjung Pangkal, and Maligi," he said, as InfoSAWIT quoted from Antara, Friday (13/9/2024).

Vice Regent of Pasaman Barat, Risnawanto also mentioned that the minimal budget of the regency would be the big challenge to solve social issus. That is why it needs the supports from the plantation and bank companies. “We would need the supports from any party, namely the banks and palm oil plantation companies to deliver helps through their CSR program,” he said.

Head of Regional Development and Research and Development Plan, Pasaman Barat, Ikhwanri said that in 2023, the poverty level at the regency reached 6,92 percent or about 33.520 men. The stunting prevalence reached 29,7 percent or equal to 5.098 babies with the decreasing target up to 14 percent. The extrem poverty in the same year reached 0,70 percent or about 3.410 men. (T2)