Govt Invites Foreign Experts of Food Estate to Mitigate Forest Fire

TEMPO.CO, Palangka Raya - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that water management at food estate locations in Pulang Pisau and Kapuas Districts, Central Kalimantan, is vital for the success of agriculture while preventing and mitigating land and forest fires.

“It is necessary because, in 2015, Pulang Pisau Regency had severe forest and land fires. That should not happen again,” said Luhut during a visit to the food barn location in Pulang Pisau, Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

He underlined that water resource engineering and the water flow process are fundamental for the success and effectiveness of agriculture in wetlands.

The Coordinating Ministry, he informed, had invited experts of food barn and agricultural biotechnology, including from Russia, in order to prevent fires in Pulau Pisang and Kapuas. The experts have also been asked to collaborate with academics at Palang Karaya University.

“We open ourselves to correct and improve each other on what we will make so that the results will be optimal and as expected,” said Luhut.

The former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs went on to say that he was instructed by President Joko Widodo to use agricultural machines that are high in local content, easy to use by farmers, and affordable for maintenance.

“Pak President directly ordered me yesterday afternoon to ensure that the food estate program in 160,000 hectares of land runs well,” Luhut said.

Read: Luhut Talks of First Potato Harvest in North Sumatra Food Estate

ANTARA