Norway to Help Indonesia Developing Peatland-friendly Agriculture
Translator
Editor
Kamis, 1 Januari 1970 07:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Pekanbaru-The Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia Stig Traavik said that Norway is ready to help Indonesia to develop peatland-friendly agriculture.
"We'll help Indonesia in mastering how to cultivate plants without drying the peatlands, and how to increase the value added of the plants. There are some plants that can grow without drying the peat, such as sago," Traavik said in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, adding that the country will also help to market the commodities produced through peatland-friendly agricultural practices.
The Ambassador said Norway is ready to support all efforts to prevent damages caused by the land and forest fires. According to him, the important thing to prevent forest fires, especially in peatlands, is not to let the lands dry up.
"If the land becomes dry, then no technology in the world can cope with it. And if it burns, Indonesia will have a very big problem," he explained.
Traavik said land and forest fires occurring in Indonesia now have the attention of his country and that it strongly supports every effort to restore peatlands.
During his visit to Pekanbaru, the Norwegian Ambassador was accompanied by the Chairman of the Indonesian Peatland Restoration Agency, Nazir Foead.
Ambassador Traavik visited Rimbo Panjang village, which witnesses land and forest fires every year.
Earlier, in February 2016, the government of Norway had allocated a grant of US$50 million to help the peat lands restoration program in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the US government has also allocated a grant of $17 million.
ANTARA