The Gunung Palung National Park Center (Tanagupa) assists and strengthens the capacity of the coffee farmer association in North Kayong Regency (KKU) West Kalimantan for the welfare of the local community.
"Currently coffee has not become the mainstay of farmers to increase their income or it just as their part time. Therefore, we invite them to manage coffee more professionally now. As the result, they produce high standards and good quality of coffee," said M. Ari Wibawanto, the Head of Tanagupa Center when contacted in Sukadana, Thursday.
He hopes the community around the area, especially the coffee farmers can improve the quality of their coffee which is considered have its own characteristics to be develop in the future.
“We see that our coffee farmers around Sukadana and other sub-districts have potential because they have varieties of coffee that are different from other regions, those are a little bit diverse. Its might affected by the topography and location so it has different tastes, “he explained
He expects the coffee farmer association can become a forum to add insight and knowledge for the coffee former which is not only embraces farmers in the Tanagupa area but also those from the outside in order to improve the quality of production and marketing.
"We gather together every month. It was expected to increase the coffee farmer capacity in KKU, especially those in the Tanagupa area until they can manage and produce by themselves. We also hope this assistance and capacity enhancement can increase the income of the coffee farmers in North Kayong,” he said.
Next year, the coffee farmers association which is assisted by Tanagupa is planned to get a coffee production house therewith the equipment that can be used by all North Kayong coffee farmers.
“Fortunately, PLN associate assist us so Desa Gunung Sembilan, Sukadana District has their own coffee production house. We also ask the Local Village head to help us provide the coffee house construction. Actually, Gunung Sembilan Village is only the location. However, all of the coffee farmers in North Kayoung should have their main office in this association," he said.
The Coffee Activist from West Kalimantan, Gusti Iwan Darmawan as the resource person said that there are several things must be considered when the farmers plant the coffee trees in Tanagupa area, especially the use of chemicals that are strictly prohibited when caring for plants which is quite phenomenal at this time.
"The cropping patterns, pruning, fertilization, pest and disease control and the pruning are things that need to be considered when we did coffee cultivation,” he said.
Editor : Teguh Imam Wibowo
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