HSU's purun industry to maintain peatland, substitutes plastics

Amuntai, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Rahim Bumi Foundation seeks to develop natural industries, such as handicrafts made from purun in peat villages in North Hulu Sungai (HSU) and Balangan Districts.

The Foundation's Program Manager Farid Wajidi here on Thursday said the development of purun crafts is an effort to conserve tyical peat plants and strengthen groups of craftsmen in peatcare villages.  

According to him, purun plant is important to keep peat in good condition. The plant, which usually as material for various handicrafts, is one of the indicators of whether or not peatlands are damaged.

"If purun is damaged or extinct, it means the peatland is damaged," said Farid during a three-day purun development training (22-24 September 2020) in Banjang village, HSU. 

In the training, which attended by 20 participants, residents learned to make straw from purun, because plastic straw donates garbage that pile up and destroys soil and water.   

"The world is worried about plastic products and starting to return to environmentally friendly products," he said. 

Even some cafes in Jakarta and Bali prohibit plastic straws. Plastic bags are reduced, so purun bags are important.  

The training participants came from four villages in HSU, namely Darussalam, Sungai Namang, Palukahan, Banjang, and two villages from Balangan, namely Teluk Karya and Banua Hanyar.

Weaving expert Sofianoor, the owner of the weaving gallery in Banua Hanyar Village, HSU, invited participants to make purun something that has economic value, so they will really take good care of the peatland where purun plant flourish.

"Hulu Sungai has good purun quality. For straw it requires a good and fresh purun," he said.

Apart from being straw, the remaining pieces of the straw are made for knick-knacks or other containers, so that no material is wasted. 

Read also: HSU's severe disabilities people receive sewing machines and basic food
Read also: HSU's ODGJ receive capital assistance
Read also: Indocement encourages partner villages to become proklim