Sigi, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA) - The government of Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi, distributed 50,000 fruit tree seedlings to farmers as a form of preparation for the relocation of the national capital (IKN) from Jakarta to East Kalimantan (Kaltim).
"The development of fruit trees is a priority that we must prepare, as a response to the relocation of the IKN to East Kalimantan," said Sigi Regent Mohamad Irwan in Sigi, Friday, during the handover of agricultural machinery and corn planting aid.
Irwan said the development of fruit trees was a form of follow-up to the vision of the Sigi Regency Government, namely "Agribusiness-based competitive Sigi".
Through this vision, he said, the Sigi Regency Government is determined to become a fruit supply area to meet the needs of the community at IKN.
"Our target is that by 2025 we will be able to produce and send durian, longan, mangosteen and avocado to provinces in Indonesia and even abroad," he said.
Therefore, he said, the Sigi Regency Government provides full support in the development of fruit trees, including the procurement of seeds, as well as guidance and assistance to farmers who plant fruit.
"This is an approach in accelerating the improvement of the economy and welfare of farmers in Sigi Regency," he said.Based on data from the Department of Food Crops, Horticulture and Plantation
(TPHP) Sigi Regency, fruit plants developed include durian, avocado, longan, and mangosteen.
"The assistance of 50,000 fruit plant seeds for 2022 consists of 20,000 durian trees, 10,000 longans, 10,000 avocados and 10,000 mangosteen trees," said the Head of the Sigi Regency TPHP Office, Rahmad Iqbal Nurkhalis. In addition, he said, the Sigi Regency Government also received fruit tree assistance from a non-governmental organization as many as 24,000 trees consisting of durian, avocado, mangosteen and nantu wood seedlings.
"The 24,000 fruit plant seeds were developed in Kulawi Raya with the concept of agroforestry which directly involves the community," he said.
He said that all of the fruit tree seedlings had been distributed by the government to farming communities to be planted.
"We hope that agricultural extension workers will participate in providing assistance and coaching to farmers, related to the development of these fruit trees," he added.Rahmad added that the government will monitor, assist and guide farmers in developing fruit trees.
