Banjar Develop Agroforestry Policy

By Yose Rizal

Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (Antaranews) - The Banjar District Government develop agroforestry (forestry and

agriculture) policies to ensure food, energy, and health security.

"Agroforestry policy conducted on land managed by agriculture crops, fisheries, livestock and plantations peasants," said Secretary of Banjar Nasrun Banjarbaru Shah on Saturday.

Regional Secretary said it in the main paper when representing Banjar Regent Khairul Saleh at the 4th National Seminar on Agroforestry which was attended by Minister of Research and Technology Gusti Muhammad Hatta.

According to him, agroforestry policies implemented by local government of Banjar like planting hard trees on farmland scattered in several subdistricts.

"There are some subdistricts that are planted with hard trees, such as Simpang Empat, Karang Intan and Martapura, as well as several villages including Aranio," said Nasrun Shah.

Improvement of food security aimed at improving upland rice production as intercrops in the rubber plantation so as to increase rice production targets.

Development of health resources is realized through tree planting that has benefits as a basic drugs material such as mangosteen, noni and other various trees.

"Development of energy by building wood biomass factory and methane gas technology production as in the middle of the trial in landfill garbage," he said.

He said, the agroforestry policy will continue to be developed through efforts to increase knowledge for the community especially on their land as a starting point for development.

The problem faced is not how the budget prepared but how to raise community awareness conducting agroforestry in their land.

"We invite universities and ministries together to help the development of agroforestry policy so that the benefits and the results are felt by the public," he said.