Waru Stitches Hope with Its Citizens’ Homemade Machine

Chairman of the Maju Bersama Fish Farmers Group, Joko Sudrajad, operates the community-built fish feed machine. (Foto: Dok.Robbi/MKN)

MUFFINTOSAY - Indonesia is known as a land rich in resources. From Sabang to Merauke, from Miangas to Rote Island, our villages harbor extraordinary potential. There is fertile soil, vast lands, abundant crops, and waters always teeming with fish. Yet often these potentials are shackled by limitations: poor market access, limited capital, inadequate technology, and the perpetual roller coaster of raw-material prices.

Many surrender to those challenges. Villages are frequently seen as bystanders in development while the cities surge onward. But behind that narrative, some villages choose a different path. They don’t stop at complaints; they turn limitations into fuel for innovation. They act, collaborate, and eventually prove that villages too can become centers of inspirational change.

A story like this unfolded in the Waru sub-district, Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan. Perhaps remote from the hustle of city life, yet from there emerged an innovation that made waves nationwide. Through Desa Sejahtera Astra (DSA), Astra International’s sustainable social contribution program, the local community, especially the fish-farming group Pokdakan Maju Bersama, solved a major problem long haunting them: the high cost of fish feed.

They didn’t just look for a solution—they created a breakthrough. Discarded items once thought worthless were transformed into a fish-feed machine called SINTAPIBABE. This modest machine turns waste into a nutritious feed for fish. The result was not just cutting production costs, but multiplying yields, opening new business opportunities, and raising their village’s name in the 2024 Astra Festival.
This is a story of how one small movement in a village can yield great impact. A tale of courage to challenge limitations, of collaboration uniting many parties, and of Astra’s simple philosophy, Satukan Gerak, Terus Berdampak.

A Stage of Inspiration at Festival Astra 2024

The ambiance at the 2024 Astra Festival in Jakarta was like a grand stage where small dreams from remote regions were spotlighted. Amid that splendor, the name Pokdakan Maju Bersama from Waru, guided by PT Waru Kaltim Plantation (WKP) emerged victorious in the fisheries category. They brought home more than a trophy; they brought visible proof that a village can produce innovation that defies constraints.

When accepting the award, Joko Sudrajad, the DSA driver in Waru, could not hide his emotion, “Thank you, PT WKP, thank you, Astra. This is my first time participating in Festival Astra. It feels like a dream,” he said gratefully. Beside him, Zakaria from the CSR team of PT WKP confirmed that the group’s work is not only an economic effort but a collective movement with wider social impact.

Eko Andrianto, Administrator of PT WKP, emphasized that this success is just the beginning, “We will continuously support SMEs, microenterprises, and fish-farming groups in the company’s operational areas to grow. Desa Sejahtera Astra is a space for communities to develop according to their potentials and flagship products.”

That win at the festival seemed to open many eyes, rural development is no longer merely about physical infrastructure. It also concerns ideas, the courage to turn scarcity into opportunity, and the spirit of mutual cooperation passed down across generations.

Innovation Born from Constraints

SINTAPIBABE is more than a machine; it is a symbol of creativity and grit (Foto: Dok.Kaltim post)

Pokdakan Maju Bersama originated from a simple worry shared by almost every fish farmer in remote regions, feed prices rising incessantly, while fish market prices remained stuck. The gap between production cost and profit narrowed so much that fish farmers often confronted the same question, “Is this business still viable?”

That concern became acute when they tallied the daily costs. Imagine, feeding fish in 35 net cages, eight lined ponds, and one earthen pond required about Rp 380,000 just for 30 kilograms of feed , and that feed lasted only four days. In other words, more than half the capital was spent just feeding fish, absorbing around 60 percent of production costs.

These figures on paper conceal sweat, hopes, and endangered dreams. If this condition persisted, not only profits would vanish, but also the aspirations of fish farmers striving since 2018 under constraints. To them, quitting was not an option. What could they do when all conventional paths seemed blocked?
Rather than yield, Pokdakan Maju Bersama chose to break through. They refused to be trapped in the cycle of problems and instead sought solutions born from self-reliance. From useless old items collecting dust, they began assembling a machine. It was a crude start, modifying an old diesel engine long unused. But from hands full of resolve emerged an innovation now known as SINTAPIBABE, short for Mesin Pembuatan Pakan Ikan dari Barang Bekas (Fish Feed Machine from Recycled Goods).

SINTAPIBABE is more than a machine; it is a symbol of creativity and grit. By modifying a nearly rusty diesel engine, they built a device capable of producing their own pellet feed. Even the raw materials are locally sourced—items once considered waste, leftover small fish (bycatch), soybean cake, cassava or red pumpkin from nearby gardens, even chicken feathers and fish bones formerly discarded. All these ingredients are dried, ground into flour, then processed in SINTAPIBABE into pellet feed with full nutritional content.

The wonder of this simple machine lies not only in its function but in its impact. In one hour, SINTAPIBABE can produce 50 kilograms of feed—enough for all the cages and ponds of Pokdakan Maju Bersama. The effect is tangible, feed costs can be cut by up to 60 percent, fish remain healthy with higher productivity, and profits are better preserved.

This innovation has breathed new life into fish farmers. Not only do they save costs, but they also build confidence that they can be independent, not fully dependent on commercial feed products. SINTAPIBABE teaches a vital lesson, limitations are not the end, but often the doorway to creativity. From a modest worry arises a major breakthrough that can inspire other farmer groups elsewhere.

A Harvest That Brings Hope

That morning along the riverbank in Waru looked different. Some members of Pokdakan Maju Bersama stood on simple wooden rafts, gently lifting nets from the cages. When the nets rose, dozens of large Sangkuriang catfish writhed, breaking the surface of the water with repeated splashes. Murmurs of delight came from watching villagers, some smiling at the fruit of months of labor. The morning sunlight added warmth to the moment, as though affirming that this harvest is not just about fish, but about enduring hope in the community.

The results from the homemade feed machine, SINTAPIBABE, were truly tangible. Sangkuriang catfish—the group’s mainstay—grew healthily, reaching 200 to 300 kg per cage in just ten days. From 19 cages, they could harvest up to one ton of fish in a month, valued at tens of millions of rupiah. These numbers aren’t just about money—they are symbols of self-reliance once thought out of reach.

Their staggered harvesting system also became key to success. They harvest cage by cage so market supply stays stable. Gone is the story of plunging fish prices due to glut or empty markets due to no supply. The supply chain runs smoothly, traders feel secure, and buyers trust that fish will always be available at fair prices. This type of management, seldom thought of by small groups, has been executed by Pokdakan Maju Bersama with discipline and consistency.

Amid this success is Joko Sudrajad, now an inspirational face. “Ten kilograms used to be cause for gratitude, even that with borrowed funds,” he recalled. “I nearly gave up.” But thanks to Astra’s guidance via the WKP program, he and his peers learned step by step—from cultivation techniques to breeding. Now, beyond grow-out operations, they have begun producing tilapia fingerlings, and soon their dependable Sangkuriang fingerlings as well.

This transformation brought huge socio-economic impact to the 33 households involved. Previously, many relied on odd jobs—some were construction workers, some small fishermen with unpredictable earnings. By joining Pokdakan, household incomes became more measurable and stable.

Women who once only managed the home now take active roles. Some help process feed, others manage harvests into simple value-added products like smoked catfish or fish nuggets. This creativity adds value beyond fresh fish sales. Some village youth who once migrated to cities now choose to return and help develop the enterprise.

The benefits reach the dining table of families. Where once daily meals might consist only of tempeh or plain vegetables, now fresh fish is always available. Children of members eat better, their health improves, and their enthusiasm to learn grows. With more stable incomes, parents can fund their children’s education without anxiety. Some even begin to set aside money for educational savings—something once unthinkable.

To the surrounding community, Pokdakan Maju Bersama has become an inspiration. People from neighboring villages come to learn how to make independent feed or how to run staggered harvests. A new hope spreads: food self-sufficiency can begin from small communities.

More than just a fish-farming group, Pokdakan Maju Bersama is now a beacon of hope. From a humble river, they channel a grand story, one ton of fish is not merely a figure, it is a future. A future where children can reach higher education, where the village is empowered, and a nation more confident in its grassroots strength.

At that riverside, each net raised is not just a catch; it's a harvest of hope. Hope born from the courage to challenge limitations, from tireless labor, and from the conviction that moving forward together is stronger than going alone.

One Movement, Many Effects

Women who once only managed the home now take active roles.(Foto: Dok.Astra-Agro)

What Pokdakan Maju Bersama started in fisheries in a corner of Penajam Paser Utara, as a small group seeking to endure soaring feed costs, eventually gave birth to the idea: what if we make feed ourselves? From that question a journey of innovation began.

Now that innovation is known as SINTAPIBABE, a waste-processing, feed-producing machine built from recycled materials. Initially intended only to help the group reduce reliance on commercial feed, its effects turned out much broader.

The SINTAPIBABE machine is attracting attention. Some neighboring villages have expressed interest in replicating it, seeing similar opportunities to tackle waste problems and lower production costs in agriculture and aquaculture. A private company is even exploring collaboration to develop the machine further so it can process leftover vegetables into commercial compost fertilizer.

“At first meant only for fish feed, now it has opened opportunities in other sectors. If further developed, this machine could become a solution for organic waste, even creating new job opportunities for rural communities,” explained Zakaria, the CSR representative from PT WKP accompanying the group’s journey.

From one simple machine emerges a wider path to independence. Imagine if household waste, leftover market vegetables, and leaves stacking in disposal areas could be processed. The village could be freed from organic waste problems and gain additional income sources. Compost fertilizer can be sold, livestock feed produced independently, and local labor absorbed to manage the business chain.

This is what makes SINTAPIBABE more than just a machine—it is a movement symbol. From a small innovation come layered impacts: incomes grow, the environment is tended, and what matters most is the community’s confidence to stand on its own.

That concept is the spirit behind Desa Sejahtera Astra. It’s not just about giving funds or tools, but about building a space for people to discover their own strength. Pokdakan Maju Bersama shows that with proper guidance, villages can find solutions even to problems that might not be solved easily at city scale.

Now, as SINTAPIBABE begins to be taken seriously, that spirit spreads. No longer is a village seen only as a recipient of aid. Instead, the village becomes a birthplace of innovation: a place for independence to grow, and a source of inspiration for sustainable development.

Astra and the Mission of Elevating Villages to a Grand Stage

Desa Sejahtera Astra (DSA) is not a short-term project that appears then vanishes. It is designed as Astra’s sustainable social contribution, built on four solid CSR pillars: education, health, environment, and economy. The program runs within this framework, with the conviction that village development cannot be separated from holistic human development.

Under the economic pillar, DSA focuses on developing rural entrepreneurship based on local potential. That means every village is encouraged to explore its own strengths—whether agriculture, aquaculture, crafts, or other sectors—and then turn them into sustainable businesses. With this approach, people become not just beneficiaries, but the main actors in the wheel of change.

Astra understands that rural development is not just about giving capital or equipment. So its approach is comprehensive. Aid in production facilities is just the beginning. It is complemented by intensive mentoring, skills training, strengthening group institutions, and facilitating market access. In this way, villages not only make products, but cultivate competitiveness and the capacity to maintain sustainability. The philosophy is simple but strong: empowerment means enabling communities to drive themselves.

The story of Waru is a real example of how that model works. Before guidance, the fish farmers there were nearly giving up under the burden of feed costs. But through the DSA program, they did not merely receive a practical solution—SINTAPIBABE—they gained new perspectives on business management, production techniques, and sustaining supply chains. Transformation occurred: a group once bound by daily issues now produces innovations that attract attention from other villages and even private companies.

What happened in Waru is a portrait of hundreds of other villages fostered by Astra across Indonesia. Each village has its own story, but the common thread is the same: when people are given space to grow, they can produce solutions beyond expectation. A village is no longer an entity waiting for aid, but a motor of change driving its surroundings.

Through DSA, Astra seems to send a message: the grand stage of Indonesia’s development does not belong exclusively to big cities or industries. Villages, with all their limitations, actually harbor tremendous potential. And when that potential is kindled with the right support, villages can stride confidently toward economic independence while contributing meaningfully to national development.

Sewing the Future Together

If we look further, what occurs in Waru is a microcosm of the nation’s path. Indonesia’s thousands of villages are rich in potential, yet often blocked by constraints. Through programs like Desa Sejahtera Astra, that potential is given space to grow, fertilized by mentorship, and illuminated by market access.

Pokdakan Maju Bersama is no longer just a fish farmer group, but a role model of how collaborative movement can yield wide impact. They prove that limitations are not reasons to stop, but fuel for innovation. “The machine we first made to address feed prices now opens new business opportunities. We believe this could be the start of big change in our village,” said Zakaria with optimism.

That hope is now real. The cages that once yielded only tens of kilograms of fish have become livelihoods for dozens of families. Waste once discarded now transforms into high-value feed. And a small village in Waru, once almost overlooked, now stands tall on the national stage.

The story of Desa Sejahtera Astra in Waru reminds us that big change doesn’t always emerge from skyscrapers in cities, from policies drafted in cooled offices, or from giant industrial machines. Sometimes change emerges from unexpected places: from a quiet riverbank, a simple lined pond, a machine assembled from discarded items once thought useless, and from villagers’ hands believing in their ability to change their fate.

In this, Astra played the spark—igniting spirited movement through guidance and support. But the real fire grew from within the community: from the courage to experiment, from collective determination that didn’t surrender in the face of obstacles, and from faith that villages can stand on equal footing with anyone. That is the true power.

This is the meaning behind the slogan Satukan Gerak, Terus Berdampak. When companies, communities, and governments move together, a small village can etch a large story. Villages are no longer seen as lagging spaces, but as innovation hubs, foundations of independence, and sources of inspiration for sustainable development.

Waru has proven it. What was once only a hope has now become reality. A humble machine born of villagers’ creativity not only cut production costs, but opened unforeseen new opportunities. From once fragile fish ponds has emerged the belief that the future can be grasped.

And when one village can achieve that, the opportunity opens for hundreds, even thousands of villages across the archipelago to follow in its footsteps. Waru is only one point of light, yet like a star in the night, it signals that darkness can be broken. That the future of Indonesia’s villages will be written not in words of marginalization, but in words of empowerment.

In Waru today, that hope is real—and from there, Indonesia’s villages, one by one, are moving toward a grand stage once seen only from afar.