Pelaihari, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Forestry Deputy Minister Sulaiman Umar handed over 3,000 productive plants to seven districts and cities in South Kalimantan Province.
Sulaiman here on Sunday said the productive seedlings were to strengthen food security through utilization of forest area and ecosystem-based community empowerment.
"Forest area can be a source of food, energy and economy if managed sustainably," he remarked.
Tanah Laut Regent H Rahmat Trianto said a total of 500 productive plant seedlings were received from the ministry in the form of avocado, dog fruit, longan, durian, areca nuts, kasturi (Kalimantan mango) and pampakin (South Kalimantan durian or yellow pulp).
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"We express our gratitude for the assistance and are committed to optimize the use of these seeds for the welfare of the community and food security in the region," said H Rahmat Trianto.
He hopes that the program can create synergy between environmental conservation, increasing food security and empowering community's economy.
Through this assistance, he said, Tanah Laut District can increase food production and community's economy, as well as maintaining forest sustainability.
Rahmat also emphasized that the district government is committed to utilizing the assistance optimally and sustainably.
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