BELITUNG – PT Timah continues to assist the Bina Tani Farmer Group in Gantung Village, East Belitung Regency, in cultivating red onions at Danau Nujau, Gangse Hamlet.
This time, PT Timah held a community development and empowerment program by conducting red onion cultivation training for the Bina Tani Farmer Group in Gantung Village from September 16-18, 2024.
In collaboration with Muhadi Setiabudi University, PT Timah provided training on red onion cultivation to improve the knowledge of red onion farmers in Gantung Village, East Belitung.
Previously, PT Timah collaborated with the Bina Tani Farmer Group in planting red onions at Danau Nujau. This program aims to strengthen food security and reduce inflation.
One training participant, Dedi Junaidi from Gangse Hamlet, said that the group members were very enthusiastic about the red onion cultivation training.
They even hope that this training will be conducted continuously, as it provides them with a lot of new knowledge about red onion cultivation.
"Alhamdulillah, the enthusiasm was amazing, and many hope this continues. We’ve been cultivating red onions since the time of Governor Babel Mr. Hudarni Rani, but we faced challenges due to the soil conditions," he said.
He mentioned that one of the challenges they face is capital, as red onion cultivation requires significant investment. For seeds alone, they have to spend a large amount.
"Actually, the prospects for onion farming are quite promising, especially now that we’re being supported by PT Timah. Last season, from one hectare with 8 quintals of seeds, we produced 6 tons. According to the trainers, this is considered successful, but the distance was a bit too far," he explained.
In the future, they hope that Danau Nujau will become a center for red onion cultivation, and that this cultivation can be expanded to other areas.
He added that with this training, they hope to eventually develop downstream red onion products, such as fried onions, onion paste, and other products.
"With this training, we’ve gained a lot of new insights, so in the future, we’ll know how to develop red onion cultivation according to the knowledge we’ve acquired," he said.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Gantung Agricultural Counseling Center, Andri Taruna Praja, was very grateful for the training and guidance from PT Timah for the Bina Tani farmer group in cultivating red onions.
Currently, he said, the interest of Gantung Village residents in red onion cultivation is increasing. Red onions are one of the contributors to inflation in Belitung, and it is hoped that increasing red onion cultivation among farmers will help reduce inflation.
"The challenge we face as agricultural instructors is the lack of knowledge and skills among farmers in addressing red onion cultivation problems. So, the training provided by PT Timah is a very fitting solution to the problems farmers are facing," he said.
He hopes that the farmers participating in the training can pass on the knowledge they’ve gained and improve their skills so that red onion production in East Belitung increases.
One of the trainers, Muhammad Juwanda, said that during the training, they provided education on red onion seedling techniques, soil preparation techniques for red onion cultivation, planting techniques, red onion plant maintenance (fertilization, irrigation, pest and disease control), harvesting techniques, and post-harvest management.
Juwanda explained that the climate and weather conditions in Nujau Hamlet are very suitable because red onions thrive in tropical climates. However, the soil requires special treatment with organic materials due to its sandy nature and low organic carbon content.
"The prospects for red onion cultivation in Gantung Village are very good, as the vast land holds great potential for optimal use, especially for agro-tourism areas," he said.
Juwanda also hopes that the farmers participating in the training can implement red onion cultivation in their paddy fields and continue it to help build the economy through red onion farming. (*)
