Kalimantan is home to the Dayak Tribe and is known as the world's lungs because of its forest area, which reaches 40.8 million hectares.

Forests with all their contents store benefits for human life, including health.

In Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, a woman of indigenous Dayak descent, Mei Christy, 38, uses the root (bajaka) of kalawit to make herbal medicine. Mei named the mixture of seeds she got in the Kalimantan forest because of her love for the forest by Lati Taka, which in the Dayak language means Our Forest. The proceeds from the sale of herbal products are also dedicated to supporting the preservation of customary forests in the Long Bracelet area, Paser Regency, and education for underprivileged Dayak children.

Mei is assisted by four compounders in processing her herbal medicines, starting from those who prepare the raw materials, mix them up, and package them to be marketed.

The typical herbal mixture of the Dayak Tribes is made with raw materials from nature, ranging from the yellow root, pasak Bumi, tembelekar origin, and several other typical Dayak herbal ingredients.

These various herbal ingredients are formulated and packaged by prioritizing hygiene. They are useful as medicine and therapy for several diseases such as pain, flu, cough, increasing body immunity, vitality, skin health, cancer, and hepatitis.

Through the MSME Exhibition of the Proudly Made in Indonesia National Movement (Gernas BBI) and SMEXPO Pertamina 2021 in Samarinda, the existence of Lati Taka Borneo is proof that Pertamina's fostered partners have succeeded in advancing to class by expanding their market to foreign countries. Coaching from Pertamina began in January 2021. The forms include capital assistance for business development, training to further herbalist education.

In addition to being diligent and tenacious, the owner of this Herbalist certificate admitted that a broad communication network is also needed for MSME players to continue to grow and advance.

"I thank you very much for guiding us to this point. Indeed, we have recently joined the Pertamina Partnership Program. Still, the impact has been felt immediately until our products reach Turkey. All of this is thanks to Pertamina," said Mei.

Photos and text: Yulius Satria Wijaya

Editor: Prasetyo Utomo