Rantau, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Indonesian Farmer Union (SPI) for South Kalimantan has planted Arabica coffee in Meratus Mountains area, part of Central Hulu Sungai (HST).
Chairman of South Kalimantan SPI Dwi Putra Kurniawan said that the aim of planting coffee in the Meratusc area to restore the environment damaged by deforestation and to improve people's economy.
“The main mission is to recover the environment, recover the economy,” said the coffee entrepreneur, Tuesday.
So far, together with Pena Hijau Indonesia and community leaders, they have planted six thousand seeds in the Meratus chain.
Previously, they had planted in Mount Periuk, Mangkiling Hamlet, and January 15 at Tiranggang Peak, Hinas Kiri Village. The two areas are in the highlands of HST.
Dwi has observed that HST ha a unique area. Four types of coffee can be developed both in its mountain areas and its swamp.
"With this potential, we make HST as a center for coffee development in South Kalimantan," he pointed out.
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The program entitled “1.000 masl to plant”, he said, would target highland areas in South Kalimantan. The type of coffee to plant is Arabica.
“Next we will plant it on Mount Hauk with an altitude of 1,325 meters above sea level in Balangan District,” he said.
When it develops, SPI plans to establish Indonesian Farmers Cooperative (KPI) to accomodate coffee produced by farmers in South Kalimantan from upstream to downstream.
In addition to Arabica, SPI has developed other types of coffee, such as excelsa and liberika.
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