Opportunity Taking Root: Growing Community Livelihoods in Riau

For communities surrounding APRIL Group’s operations in Riau Province, Indonesia, livelihood opportunities often begin with what resources already exist close to home: the land they manage, crops suited to local conditions, and the knowledge shared among community members.

Across Siak and Pelalawan Regencies, local farmer groups are transforming underutilised land and local agricultural potential into productive, income-generating opportunities.

Turning idle land into banana plantations

In Kampung Rawa Kao, Siak Regency, land that once lay idle is now being cultivated for banana plantations.

The initiative began with support from APRIL through the provision of banana seedlings and  training on cultivation techniques and pest management.

Through ongoing mentoring and technical guidance, local farmers have strengthened their capabilities to utilise the plantations. Today, local farmer groups collectively manage 8.5 hectares of banana plantations across five villages, with the capacity to produce up to 26,000 kilograms of bananas annually.

What began as an opportunity to make productive use of idle land has evolved into an increasingly important economic activity for local communities. As cultivation expands,  Siak is emerging as a growing centre for banana production in the region.

When farmers share, opportunities grow

A similar transformation is taking place in Kuala Panduk, Pelalawan Regency, where farmers are cultivating honey pineapple, making use of the area's peatland environment where the crop thrives.

The initiative began modestly, with APRIL providing 6,000 pineapple seedlings to four farmers, along with cultivation support and technical guidance. As the first farmers gained experience, they began sharing both seedlings and cultivation knowledge with other farmers.

That simple exchange created a ripple effect, allowing more community members to take part and expand pineapple cultivation in the area.

Today, honey pineapple cultivation has now expanded to a total of 9 hectares, producing more than 33,600 kilograms of honey pineapple in 2025. Beyond serving local demand, Kuala Panduk is increasingly recognised as a regional centre for honey pineapple production, supplying markets beyond the village.

Transforming local potential into lasting livelihoods

While the banana and honey pineapple initiatives focus on different crops, both are built on the same foundation: inclusive participation, continuous capacity building, and improved access to markets.

The initiatives are part of APRIL2030, the company’s long-term sustainability commitment, particularly under its Inclusive Progress pillar, which includes a goal to eradicate extreme poverty within a 50 km radius of our operations. By helping people develop opportunities close to home, the initiatives support APRIL’s commitment to building more resilient and sustainable livelihoods.

As part of APRIL’s broader community development efforts, the agribusiness programme supports farmers and farmer groups through sustainable farming training, the provision of tools, seedlings and fertilisers, production facility assistance, and market access facilitation. In 2025, APRIL rolled out interventions for 51 farmer groups, generating year-to-date gross revenues of IDR 1.1 billion.

Together, these efforts help farmers improve productivity and develop more economically viable agricultural activities, while building the capabilities and confidence needed to sustain and grow their livelihoods over time.

Ultimately, the emphasis is not simply on how much a community produces, but on strengthening its ability to sustain and grow its livelihoods over time.