TRIBUN-TIMUR.COM, BULUKUMBA – During training activities regarding quality standards for production processes and palm sugar products. Taking place in the Bontoharu Village Office Hall, Sunday, December 17 2023.

This activity was carried out by the Dana Mitra Tani (DMT) Local Institution which is part of the Palm Sugar Producing Farmers Assistance program for the preservation of the Balatieng Watershed Area, and supported by GEF-SGP Indonesia and UNDP.This training was attended by 30 farmers consisting of men and women. All of them came from three different villages in the Rilau Ale sub-district, namely Bontoharu Village, Karama Village and Swatani Village.

Village Head Bontoharu Baharuddin opened the event and explained the importance of farmer unity in strengthening agricultural business management, including the palm sugar production business.

“We should have thought about this training from the start. "Because if we work together, have confidence and believe that all of us farmers who produce palm sugar here, will be able to compete in local and foreign markets," he said.

He also hopes that the participants can take maximum benefit from the training activities in improving the quality of the palm sugar production business and helping to preserve the Balantieng watershed ecosystem.

"So I hope that all of us here will really take advantage of this opportunity, so that our shared goals can be achieved," he said when delivering his opening remarks at this activity, Sunday 17 December 2023.

In this training, two resource persons helped as facilitators who accompanied the participants in the activity, namely Muhammad Nur and Abdul Wahid.

DMT Chairman Sri Puswandi explained that the two invited speakers, each named Muhammad Nur, were tasked with guiding the participants in formulating quality standards for production processes and products,

Meanwhile, the other resource person was Abdul Wahid, he was tasked with assisting participants in understanding environmentally friendly agricultural techniques that need to be applied on agricultural land.

Wandi, who is familiarly known as the DMT chairman, talked about the excitement of this training, one of which was that the participants were able to share their experiences with each other so far.

"Training participants also share the knowledge and experience they have had so far, in tapping and producing palm sugar for community needs," he explained.

He also hopes that this activity can be a source of benefit and can have a positive impact on preserving the Balantieng watershed ecosystem.

"Hopefully this training activity can provide great benefits for the lives of farmers and have a positive impact on preserving the Balantieng watershed ecosystem," he concluded.