Tuban, E Java, March 9 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) symbolically handed over the Social Forestry Decree (SK) for the utilization of corn fields to be managed by the local people in Ngimbang Village, Palang Sub-district, Tuban, East Java.
"The government continues to distribute the forest management decree for social forestry. I always pursue the forestry minister to immediately share the management rights and decree. It is important to share it equally. Do not give priority to 'powerful' people only," the president remarked here on Friday.
President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana were accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, State Secretary Minister Pratikno, and other officials who attended the distribution of SK and a corn harvest.
"I allocated the ponds in Muaragembong of Bekasi District where 11 thousand hectares of ponds were mostly controlled by a powerful person. However, it is taken over by the local people, such as farmers, but they only received 80 hectares. I urge to allocate 11 thousand hectares immediately," he noted.
The head of state also monitored the allocation of corn fields in Tuban.
According to Coordinating Minister of Finance Nasution, teak trees had since long been planted in Ngimbang Village. The government will evaluate the field every five years.
The fields in Ngimbang Village were cultivated by the Ngimbang Makmur farmer group that had received 177 hectares for 147 households, under a social forestry decision.
"Currently, we have carried out intercropping by planting maize between rows of sengon and teak from the start of the plantation. Today, we have harvested it, and the produce reaches 33.7 tons of corn from 7.5 hectares, or 4.5 tons per hectare, since if hybrid maize is well-cultivated, the production could reach seven tons per hectare, with the price starting from Rp3,000 to Rp3,200 per kilogram, depending on the water content," he explained.
Under the SK, some 8975.8 hectares were distributed to 13 groups, with 9,143 households.
Two SK have been applied in Bojonegoro District covering1,494.2 hectares allocated to 1,342 families; three SK in Blitar District for 1,399.6 hectares and 1,284 families; and 8 SK in Malang District for 6,092 hectares and 6,017 families. Moreover, the farmers will be offered 2,501 farm cards and Community Business Credit valued at Rp9.4 billion.
Earlier, President Jokowi had harvested corn, planted teak seedlings, and distributed an SK in Ngimbang Village, Palang Sub-district, Tuban District.
The president visited East Java on Friday on the second day of his work visit.(*)
Reported by Desca Lidya Natalia
