SUKABUMI, WEST JAVA — After waiting for about three months, the melons growing in the Greenhouse of PTGL (Pesantren Tahfizh Green Lido) in Sukabumi were finally ready for harvest on Sunday (11/12/2023). Joy filled the hearts of the donors and corporate partners of Dompet Dhuafa who participated in harvesting the melons in the greenhouse during the Hydroponic Melon Harvest Festival titled Fruit O’Clock. More than 80 donors and corporate partners attended this grand harvest event.
The PTGL Greenhouse is a blessing from the generosity of donors, specifically the surplus from productive endowments managed by Dompet Dhuafa. The establishment of this greenhouse is a manifestation of the continuous flow of productive endowment management through Dompet Dhuafa. The PTGL Greenhouse also serves to complement the Pesantren Tahfizh Green Lido, as a support effort for the operational activities of PTGL, which is hoped to continue to grow.
The harvested melons from the PTGL Greenhouse are of the Talent variety from the Muskmelon type, originating from Japan. This variety, valued for its round shape, netted outer skin, yellow flesh, and sweetness level above 14 brix, commands a high market price.
Baca juga: Masjid As-Sa’adah Gagah Berdiri, Pesantren Tahfizh Green Lido Lanjutkan Pembangunan Gedung Asrama
Pesantren Tahfizh Green Lido of Dompet Dhuafa aims to be a model of an excellent, independent, and modern boarding school based on productive endowment. The melon greenhouse is one of the productive business units initiated by the boarding school. The PTGL Greenhouse is designed to become a revenue stream unit based on endowment for PTGL while also offering entrepreneurship learning for students and empowerment for local farmers.
The melon picking tour aims to foster camaraderie with the donors and collaborative partners of Dompet Dhuafa’s goodwill. Moreover, the Hydroponic Melon Grand Harvest is also a form of transparency report on the management of endowments by Dompet Dhuafa.
Bobby Manullang, General Manager of Wakaf at Dompet Dhuafa, thanked the donors and collaborative partners for their presence at the Fruit O’Clock event.
“Today, we are in a 2.2-hectare productive endowment area, a gift from donors who entrusted Dompet Dhuafa to manage this endowment land,” he stated.
According to Bobby, PTGL is being developed in phases to have a strong foundation. Dompet Dhuafa’s vision is not only to provide quality education but also to instill an entrepreneurial spirit.
Bobby conveyed that the melon picking tour that day was not a solo effort but a collective victory among Dompet Dhuafa, donors, and collaborative partners of goodwill.
“We all strive to be beneficial in life. For the best of people are those who are most beneficial,” he said.
Ali Bastoni, General Manager of Waqf Property Management at Dompet Dhuafa, explained that the core of the educational program implementation at PTGL is based on an endowment revenue stream.
“In the future, the core activity on this endowment land will be the boarding school. Alhamdulillah, it has started operating today,” said Ali.
Baca juga: Generali Indonesia Apresiasi Pesantren Tahfidz Berbasis Wakaf Dompet Dhuafa
He explained that previously the students resided at Smart Ekselensia in Parung, Bogor.
“Today, thanks to generous endowments and support from various parties, including corporations and communities, students can reside here, though in limited numbers,” said Ali.
Ali also shared the purpose behind building the endowment-based greenhouse, which is to help support the operational activities of the boarding school.
“The plan is to construct five to eight greenhouses to optimize the use of productive endowment land,” he stated.
He hopes that the support and cooperation between Dompet Dhuafa, donors, and collaborative partners of goodwill will continue.
“Hopefully, together we can create quality education that remains affordable for the community,” he wished.
One of the farmers and Millennial Farmer Activist, Udi Rafiudin, also shared his joy for being part of the farmers growing alongside the PTGL Greenhouse.
“Alhamdulillah, the inaugural harvest of the PTGL Greenhouse is a pride and honor for me to share knowledge about melon cultivation. From the preparation stage to the cultivation process, so as to produce quality and beneficial fruit for the community,” said Udi Rafiudin, a Millennial Farmer Activist.
The grand harvest unfolded as a series of engaging edu-tourism activities. Attendees were not only invited to pick melons together but also to listen to talk shows and participate in workshops on melon cultivation. (Dompet Dhuafa/Wakaf/Hafiz/Anndini)