Tapin to oversee rumbia land conversion

Rantau, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The government of Tapin District will oversee the potential that could replace the function of rumbia or sago tree that grows many in the regency.

Head of Tapin Agriculture Agency Wagimin said that the agency is currently monitoring the potential that could damage the sago plant ecosystem. For example, land conversion into oil palm plantation and activity of development.

"We know that rumbia tree is a producer of sago which we use as food, and in some other areas it even becomes a staple food," said Wagimin while attending the 2020 Sagu Nusantara Week here on Tuesday (Oct 20, 2020).

The tree with the scientific name Metroxylon sagu is just like a palm tree, mostly growing in swampy or wetland and riverbanks. In some areas, the sago land turned into oil palm plantation.

"Whereas the processed products from rumbia tree, namely sago flour, has a high economic value. People send it to Java," said Wagimin.

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Meanwhile, Tapin Regional Secretary H Masraniansyah said that many of rumbia plants grow wild in the Tapin, especially in areas with high water content.

H. Masyraniansyah hopes that sago can be alternative food for the community and can be preserved as a legacy from the ancestors.

Sago is known not only as an alternative foodstuff, but the plant is considered to be good for restoring peat soil. 

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