WartaBulukumba.Com – Palm sugar farmers from 12 villages in Bulukumba with hearts full of love are like drops of sugar in the warmth of the house dripping sweetly behind simplicity but full of joy. Apart from being passionate about maintaining palm sugar fields, the icon of their life, they also continue to strive to protect the land and ecosystem. On Tuesday, December 19 2023, dozens of palm sugar farmers were seen filling the hall of the Bajiminasa Village Office, Rilau Ale District, Bulukumba Regency. An atmosphere of emotion and burning enthusiasm accompanied the training activities held by the Dana Mitra Tani institution.
Supported by UNDP, this training is an inseparable part of the palm sugar producing farmer assistance program, aimed at underlying the conservation of the Balantieng Watershed Area, a major step presented with the support of GEF-SGP Indonesia and UNDP. No less than 30 farmers, who came from four different villages in the same sub-district, Rilau Ale, enlivened this moment. Bajiminasa Village, Pangalloang Village, Bonto Bangun Village, and Batukaropa Village are witnesses of tireless collaboration between farmers, both men and women. At the opening of the event, the Head of Bajiminasa Village, Ansar Arsyad, expressed his hope that each participant could gain the maximum benefit from this training. He realized the importance of improving the quality of palm sugar production as a concrete step to support the preservation of the Balantieng watershed ecosystem.
Four classes of Sri Puswandi, a familiar figure as Chair of Dana Mitra Tani (DMT), explained the essence of educational activities on production and product quality standards. There are four classes that have been designed with an ambitious target: 120 farmer participants from 12 villages in three different sub-districts. It should be noted that the first class was successfully held in the Bonto Haru Village Office Hall, with participants from three different villages. A similar event will soon decorate Anrang Village on December 21 2023. Also Read: Farmers from 12 villages in Bulukumba together with Dana Mitra Tani and UNDP support the restoration of the Balangtieng watershed ecosystem. This is an undeniable commitment to empower farmers from various villages, with the hope that they can gain a deep understanding of the quality standards of palm sugar production and products.
"The aim of education on quality standards for production processes and palm sugar products is to provide concrete knowledge for farmers," explained Sri Puswandi.
It is hoped that this knowledge will not only be a provision, but can also be applied in real terms in product processing. "Hopefully, from this activity, we can all see the positive impact on the lives of farmers as well as preserving the Balangtieng watershed ecosystem." As the sun anchored itself on the western horizon, today's training left a trace of hope. Hope to see a real transformation, not only in the quality of palm sugar production, but also in maintaining the ecosystem that gives meaning to their lives. This training is like a ray of hope that fosters cultural and ecosystem sustainability, a most beautiful offering for the Balantieng watershed.***
Source Article entitled "Dana Mitra Tani trains palm sugar farmers from 12 villages in Bulukumba: production and ecosystem preservation", in full with the link: https://wartabulukumba.pikiran-rakyat.com/ekobis/pr-877494438/dana-mitra-tani-melatih-petani-gula-aren-dari-12-desa-di-bulukumba-produksi-dan-pelestarian-ekosistem?page=2