Six Sugar Palm Business Groups in Simalungun Receive Ant Sugar Production Equipment

SIMALUNGUN, GARISBUMI.com – Processing of palm sap by assisted business groups in Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra, is still dominated by conventional molded sugar. Limited equipment is one of the obstacles to developing products and reaching a wider market.

To overcome these obstacles, the Ministry of Forestry provided six packages of production equipment to six sugar palm business groups. Assistance was handed over during the Facilitation of Productive Tools for Creative Forestry Entrepreneurship activities in the Forest Area Hall with Special Purposes (KHDTK) Pondok Buluh Training Forest, Dolok Panribuan District, Simalungun Regency, Tuesday (6/10/2026).

The activity was organized by the Forest Conservation Generation Development Center (Pusgenri), the Human Resources Extension and Development Agency (BP2SDM) of the Ministry of Forestry. This facilitation is a follow-up to fostering entrepreneurship in non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for sugar palm commodities, especially for the younger generation.

Based on evaluations after technical guidance, the limitations of modern production equipment mean that the group's business is not running optimally. Palm sugar processing still produces a lot of molded sugar, while the development of sugar palm derivative products requires equipment support and quality improvement.

Encourage the Development of Sugar Ants

Head of the Forestry Creative Entrepreneurship Division, Marwoto, opened the activity and read out the Head of Pusgenri's instructions. He emphasized that aid should be used to increase the added value of palm sugar through the production of ant sugar that is hygienic, has low water content, and is packaged airtight.

The product is directed to be developed with the brand identity "Sustainable Palm Sugar from KHDTK Pondok Buluh".

Marwoto also reminded recipient groups to maintain equipment and operate it according to standard operational procedures or SOPs. It is hoped that the assistance will actually be used in business activities and not neglected.

Each aid package includes a gas oven, vacuum packaging machine or vacuum sealer, gas stove, frying pan, gas cylinder, digital scales, and a Brix refractometer to measure dissolved solids levels in sap.

The six recipient groups are the Aren Manis Group, KTH Damar Lestari, KTH Wahana, KTH Maju Bersama, Bona Aren Group, and KTH Bonan Dolok Indah.

The participants are alumni of technical guidance from groups assisted by the P2SDM Center Region I Pematangsiantar and UPTD KPH Region II Pematangsiantar.

Assistance Accompanied by Legality Training and Assistance

Apart from receiving equipment, participants took part in the practice of operating ant sugar processing equipment with PT Sultan Aren Indonesia practitioners. This training is intended so that the group is able to use production facilities according to SOP.

The activity also featured a creative entrepreneurship session with the Simalungun Regency Industry and Trade Service as well as a licensing clinic with the Simalungun Regency Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Service.

Through this clinic, business groups are assisted in processing their Business Identification Number (NIB). Business legality is one of the concerns in developing sugar palm businesses so that groups have an official administrative basis.

The Ministry of Forestry also emphasizes strengthening group institutions and the involvement of the younger generation of forest conservationists. The development of the sugar palm business is expected to open up opportunities for economic independence while maintaining the function of the environment and forest water management.

This program is also directed at supporting Indonesia's FOLU Net Sink 2030 target. Representatives of the Simalungun Regency Government and Pangulu Nagori Pondok Buluh appreciated the equipment assistance and assistance for business groups around KHDTK Pondok Buluh.