Entrepreneurs are usually associated with the image of making as much profit as possible. However, there are also philanthropic entrepreneurs who have a vision that their business should not only pursue profits but also empower the surrounding community and environment. This philanthropic practice in the business world can have a real positive impact.

The atmosphere of Filantropi Indonesia Festival 2025 (FIFest2025) was warm with an online discussion entitled Synergizing in Financing Sustainable Development, Monday, (4/8/2025). An inspiring story from Central Sulawesi stole the attention of the speakers and listeners in the discussion.

This is clear evidence of how the synergy of three collaborations between PT Syngenta Seed Indonesia and Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) has succeeded in changing the fate of thousands of cocoa farmers who had been downtrodden. Through a partnership program since 2018, they introduced maize cultivation as a solution to increase income and rebuild the local economy.

PT Syngenta Seed Indonesia's Regional Sales Manager Bahtiar Manadjeng shared the program's journey that started in 2018. He explained that the initiative stemmed from concerns about the condition of cocoa farmers who were losing their income.

At the time the program started, farmers' knowledge of maize cultivation was very limited, resulting in very low productivity of only 2 tons to 3 tons per hectare.

This is in stark contrast to other maize growing regions in Indonesia such as Gorontalo, South Sulawesi, and East Java, which have reached 8-9 tons per hectare. Syngenta and WVI took the initiative to introduce maize as an alternative.

"This is very concerning, so we with WVI at that time initiated how to then encourage farmers who lost their jobs from the cocoa commodity to be able to start with a new commodity, namely corn," he explained.

The turning point of the program started with ademonstration plot in Palolo sub-district, Sigi district. The assisted cocoa farmer successfully planted 4 kilograms of maize seeds and produced almost 4 tons. 

With a sense of amazement from the initial results of corn cultivation in Palolo sub-district, Bahtiar projected, "If they plant 1 hectare, looking at the productivity per kilo, it is above 10 tons. Because the soil in Palolo, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi is very fertile."

This success story quickly spread, triggering the establishment of experimental fields in various locations involving thousands of farmers. The impact was tremendous, not only on crop yields, but also on the lives of the farmers. 

"The most touching thing is actually the farmers involved in this program. We meet them 3 years or 4 years later and they have changed, their houses have become stone houses, cars have been parked in front of their houses, and they say this is thanks to the corn commodity," he said.

In addition to providing cultivation knowledge, the program also focuses on building a sustainable business ecosystem. Syngenta and WVI established Entrepreneurial Service Point (ESP), a village-level distribution network that provides seeds and fertilizers. They even facilitated training for local entrepreneurs and even a comparative study to corn centers in South Sulawesi.

The impact of this collaboration can also be seen in Syngenta's business. From selling IDR 300 million worth of maize seeds in 2018, their business has jumped dramatically to reach IDR 18 billion by 2024. This increase not only benefits the company, but also encourages investment into Central Sulawesi from buyers of pipil corn for animal feed.

The program also reaches out to vulnerable groups in line with the SDG(sustainable development goals) principles of justice and equality.

"We also work with farmers with disabilities, including women farmers, training them on how to manage their finances," she said.

Bahtiar, who has been directly involved in the program since the beginning, is proud of the results. "For me personally, the impact has been tremendous, not just business-wise for Syngenta, but socially, community-wise, and economic growth-wise," he says.

As proof of success, maize productivity per hectare in Central Sulawesi has now exceeded 5 tons. The province has also become the third largest maize producer in Sulawesi, behind South Sulawesi and Gorontalo.

This success, he says, is the result of a solid collaboration between Syngenta, WVI and other stakeholders.

Strategic partnerships and community empowerment

Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), as a philanthropic organization focused on community empowerment, applies a strategic approach to assist farmers, especially the most vulnerable. Currently, WVI operates in 15 provinces and 61 districts/cities. Since 2017, they have also been a member of the Indonesian Philanthropy Association (PFI).

To fund its activities, WVI uses a variety of funding sources, both from individuals and institutions, including government and non-government parties. In recent years, WVI has developed a new funding model called public-private partnership (PPP).

Contribution to sustainable development

Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Indonesian Philanthropy Association Fransiscus Welirang said that the business world is not only about seeking profits, but can also contribute to the development of the surrounding community. This behavior is commonly referred to as philanthropic.

Franky, his nickname, explained that philanthropy comes from two words 'filan' which is a translation of the Latin 'philo' which means love and 'tropis' which comes from 'anthropic' or human.

"Being a philanthropist is more or less a free translation of loving others," said Franky.

Minister of National Development Planning / National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Rachmat Pambudy said that the business world has the financial capacity and reach to be able to participate in empowering sustainable development.

"Synergy and participation of all stakeholders are needed for sustainable development," Rachmat said.

Rachman Kurniawan, Manager of the Environmental Development Pillar of the National Secretariat of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), appreciated this collaboration as a real example of good practices that support the achievement of SDGs. "Solid partnerships like this produce good practices that have real impact," he said at the same event (4/8/2025). 

The Government of Indonesia has made the SDGs an integral part of the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), and is encouraging cross-sector partnerships to achieve the targets by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals with 169 measurable targets, adopted by UN member states in 2015.

The SDGs are a global development agenda for peace and prosperity for people and planet Earth, both now and in the future.

According to Rachman, the collaboration between Syngenta and WVI touches on various SDGs targets, ranging from poverty alleviation, food security, to decent work. He emphasized that Indonesia has shown good progress in achieving the SDGs with an average of 61%, much better than the global achievement of only 18%. 

To accelerate the achievement of the 2030 targets, SDGs together with the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) continue to encourage a"Decade of Action" through partnerships involving all parties, from government, academia, civil society, to the private sector.

"We carry the principle of no one left behind, which means all parties must be involved and benefit," he added. 

To expand the impact of these good practices, the SDGs Indonesia Secretariat maintains a dashboard repository that summarizes more than 700 good practices in various locations. It aims to replicate the successes and encourage massive and sustainable achievement of the SDGs across Indonesia.