Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (AntaranewsKalsel) - The government of Barito Kuala, South Kalimantan, develops tamban pineapple plantation area of ??360 hectares to meet the needs of fresh fruit in South Kalimantan.
Head of Horticulture Department of South Kalimantan Agriculture, Food Crop and Horticulture Agency Arifin in Banjarmasin on Thursday said tamban pineapple has significant potential to improve the welfare of society, let alone it have a broad enough market share.
Tamban pineapple , he said, has a characteristic of sweet and a little sour. When compared with pineapple of other areas it feels fresher.
"The fresh characteristic of tamban pineapple making the Ministry of Agriculture provided certificates," he said.
The considerable potential makes the provincial government and Barito Kuala district push pineapple plantations as agro-tourism locations. Thus, people can buy and eat directly at the plantation site while enjoying the natural beauty of the area.
Tamban pineapple grown on an area of 360 hectares spread over nine villages in Sub-district of Mekarsari. However, until now only four villages are designated as central tamban pineapple cultivation.
In one hectare of land can be planted 20,000 to 25,000 pineapples that can produce 2,000 to 3,000 pineapples per month. That is, each month, farmers can earn a minimum of Rp10 million. On the other hand, the market share of sales is quite clear.
Seeing the huge potential, said Arifin, the cultivation of pineapple will be enhanced through a variety of programs that have been set.
"Nowadays tamban pineapple is sold as fresh fruit. Going forward we will provide training to the community to develop a variety of products with the raw material of this pineapple," he said.
Through these efforts, he hopes not only to improve the welfare of society, but also to reduce unemployment in the area.
Tamban pineapple farmer who is also Chairman of Farmers Group Tani Maju Dadi Marjuni said pineapple not only boost the development of the welfare of the farming community, but also the awareness to work hard for innovation to disassemble the entire existing natural potential.
