The Acting Governor of West Sulawesi Planted Cavendish Bananas in the Assisted Village of PT Letawa by Utilizing the Locals’ homeyard

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Acting Governor of West Sulawesi (Sulbar), Bahtiar Baharuddin, and his delegation had a working visit with various agendas in Pasangkayu Regency on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

One of the agendas of the Governor of West Sulawesi was planting cavendish banana seedlings in the yard of a resident of Makmur Jaya Village, Tikke Raya District, Pasangkayu Regency.

The Cavendish banana planting program which is applied in PT Letawa, a subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari (AAL) is in line with one of PT AAL's programs, namely 'Astra Hijau'.

Pj Bahtiar said the soil texture in West Sulawesi is suitable for cavendish bananas, where the economic and nutritional potential of cavendish bananas is very promising.

"Public demand for the distinct flavour of cavendish bananas and the marketing ecosystem for agricultural products has been fostered in West Sulawesi. With proper care, cavendish bananas can be harvested within 6 months after planting," he said.

PT Letawa CSR Staff, Ahmad Faizal stated that PT Letawa collaborates and cooperates in developing the potential in the region and succeeding programs that local, provincial, and central governments are running.

According to him, cavendish bananas have a unique texture and are good for health due to their high fibre and potassium content that improves digestion.

"Based on the study results, cavendish bananas also contain 400 milligrams of potassium per 100 grams. This potassium content can reduce the risk of heart disease by 27%. Planting banana trees in residents' yards has an economic value which then becomes our concern for reforesting the yard. This program has also contributed to air quality improvement due to sufficient oxygen supply while at the same time providing a source of income as the plants begin to produce," said Faizal in his statement in Pasangkayu, on Friday (12/7/2024)."

Mursalim, one of the residents of Makmur Jaya Village, was delighted to know that his land had been chosen for the pilot plantation of cavendish bananas in Pasangkayu, especially Tikke Raya.

"Our yard is spacious and seeing the production potential of this banana is very promising," he explained.

Tikke Raya Sub-District Head, Mus Muliadi, appreciated the activity of utilizing residents' home yards and will map residents' land to be used as banana gardens.

"We will coordinate this with the village government for residents who want their land planted with cavendish banana trees," he said.

Makmur Jaya Village Head, Ahmad Khaeruddin, thanked the acting Governor of West Sulawesi for making Makmur Jaya Village the first cavendish banana planting area in Pasangkayu Regency.

"We are also grateful to PT Letawa for supporting this activity which aims to increase the economic potential of the community," he said.

PT Letawa's Administrative Manager (ADM), Unari Sarmidi, positively appreciated the cavendish banana planting activity in the village area under his guidance in improving the community's economy.

"Together, hopefully, we can develop agricultural potential and collaborate to build the economy in the Tikke Raya area and this will be an added value for the community," he said.

According to the Community Development Officer (CDO) of PT Letawa, Agus Setiawan, this activity is in line with the Astra Hijau program in preserving the environment through a tree planting program which is conducted in the yard or yard because this is a long-term investment that can improve the ecosystem and air quality in the community, and help regulate global pollution levels.

Agus continued, PT Letawa's collaboration with the Makmur Jaya Village government in utilizing home yards developed towards a more productive direction, from the initial start of developing vegetable cultivation and now expanding to productive plants, such as cavendish bananas which provides a significant economic contribution.

"The planting of cavendish banana trees in residents' yards will be the pioneer for the expansion of banana commodities which contributes to the economy of the people," he added.

Source: Trans 89

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