Kotabaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of Kotabaru Legislative Council (DPRD) M Arif encouraged sugar palm farmers to revitalize their local sugar palm into quality hybrid plant seeds.
He suggested this after seeing that farmers were no longer produce palm sugar which has been the leading product in Tirawan Village.
"It's time for farmers to switch to planting superior sugar palm seeds," said M Arif in Kotabaru, Monday (Dec 11, 2023.
The change to plant superior seed of Genjah type, he said, will spped up production of palm sap (water from tapping sugar palm trees), because this type of seeds can be harvested at the age of five years.
Read also: DPRD appreciates PUPR for building Sungai Bulan - Teluk Sirih bridge
"Compared to local sugar palm which can be harvested in the 10th year, there is a time difference of almost half the age," said Arif.
He insisted that people should gain undestanding and education on cultivation of Genjah sugar palm, because it can produce three times harvest compared to local sugar palm grown by farmers.
"Based on the presentation, the average sap production per day is about 12.14 liters and to date no pest or disease have been found in the population of this variety," Arif pointed out.
Tirawan is home industry palm sugar producing village in Kotabaru District, but it is currently not producing for the reason of mrketing difficulties and rising opeational cost.
Read also: DPRD speaker says SIMTARU facilitates business service in Kotabaru
Read also: Kotabaru holds One Night Saijaan at TMII
