Tanjung, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - One of farmers assisted by the Adaro Bangun Negeri Foundation (YABN) succeeded in cultivating superior rubber plants that are free from white root fungus. "Thank God, from the results of YABN's training and mentoring, our rubber land can be free of disease," said Sarmin, a farmer from Saradang Village, Haruai Sub-district.
Many rubber farmers, especially in Tabalong, are discouraged in conducting rubber cultivation, due to white root fungus attacks. Fungus are very easily transmitted from one plant to another, spread even by air.
If mishandled, said Sarmin, rubber plant will die without a trace, and some even say that the disease has not yet found a cure.
The costs needed to fight this disease are relatively expensive, so it is necessary to find an effective control of this disease but still affordable by farmers.
This is proven by Sarmin in YABN's model garden since 2014. He actively participates in training, mentoring, and even practices in the field related to plant pests and rubber cultivation.
Improving the quality of rubber owned by farmers is also YABN's hope to improve the welfare of the community, especially in the operational area of PT Adaro Indonesia through the development program of superior rubber plantations owned by the people to encourage community economic development based on local potential.
The superior rubber plantation program covers two types of land in its use, namely overlay gardens and model gardens which are spread in the Tabalong and Balangan areas. Overlay garden is a pattern of land owned by farmers in one stretch managed by a group in accordance with the extent of land ownership of each owner.
While the model garden has a pattern of land owned by farmers in one village with certain area requirements in each village. The plantations are managed by individuals with the management of rubber plantations in accordance with recommended procedures, both in terms of land clearing, planting and maintenance.
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According to YABN's economics staff, Chandra, since the beginning of 2012 the program has been built with a 190 hectare model garden and 164 hectares of overlay. Both are spread in 117 villages of two regencies with a total of 357 farmers and 80 percent of farmers have succeeded in running the YABN superior rubber plantation program.
"Sarmin is one of the farmers who succeeded in conducting superior rubber cultivation with a harvest age of five years," said Chandra.
This achievement is certainly extraordinary, because this is Sarmin's first time working rubber cultivation. Previously Sarmin was a vegetable farmer.
Together with YABN assisted farmers in Tabalong, especially in Haruai Sub-district, Sarmin learned a lot and actively participated in the super rubber cultivation training activities.
Sarmin also plans to establish a raw rubber processing and marketing unit to facilitate farmers to improve rubber quality.
He is expected to be able to inspire more farmers to change the mindset that it is important to conduct rubber cultivation in accordance with standards to maintain the quality of rubber plants so that the results obtained are more optimal.
