BANGKA -- Indonesian Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko visited PT Timah Tbk's Jangkang Water Reclamation Campoeng which is located in Riding Panjang Village, Merawang District, Bangka Regency, Tuesday (8/8/2023).
Moeldoko's arrival at PT Timah Tbk's ex-mining land to carry out planting, signing and declaration of sago as sustainable food and development of wetland forests ahead of Indonesia Net Zero 2060.
This activity was also attended by the Main Director of PT Timah Tbk, Ahmad Dani Virsal, Acting Governor of Bangka Belitung Suganda Pandapotan Pasaribu and Forkompinda of Bangka Belitung Province, as well as Director of PT Bangka Asindo Agri (BAA), Chairman of the Sekak Nature Green Rudiyansah Foundation.
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This planting is a collaboration of PT Timah Tbk with the Sekak Nature Green Foundation and PT BAA to utilize ex-mining land by planting sago as sustainable food and developing wetland forests in preparation for Indonesia's Net Zero 2060.
Air Jangkang Reclamation Kampoeng is a former mining area of ??PT Timah Tbk covering an area of ??37 hectares which is managed in an integrated manner with the concept of edu ecotourism. Another Bentu reclamation area carried out by PT Timah Tbk in managing ex-mining land.
Indonesian Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said the world is currently facing three major issues namely the food crisis, energy crisis and global financial crisis. In addition, Indonesia is also faced with natural phenomena that can disrupt food security.
"We have to look for new alternatives in the food sector. I see that the potential for sago in several regions in Indonesia is very good, including in Bangka Belitung. We have 90 percent sago growth in the world, but we are the fourth exporting country in the world. This is strange," Moeldoko said.
For this reason, he challenged the people of Bangka Belitung to start planting sago as an alternative food that can grow in various weather conditions.
"Sago is a good alternative to be developed as an alternative food commodity for Indonesia, because sago is a sustainable food and is heading for zero emissions by 2060. This sago has an advantage in the dry and wet seasons as well. I invite everyone to move," he said.
He also appreciated the planting of sago which was carried out on former mining land. So that it can help reduce environmental damage.
"Bangka Belitung's environment needs attention, planting sago in wetlands can be an alternative besides food and can improve environmental conditions. Because sago is also easier to grow in wetlands such as former mines," he said.
Meanwhile, Acting Governor of Bangka Belitung Suganda Pandapotan Pasaribu said the total area of ??critical land in Bangka Belitung is 176,104 hectares. According to him, planting sago can be an alternative and will continue to be encouraged.
"This is an alternative because sago can grow and not damage the environment. It is included in the palm group. This sago, even though it has been harvested, can still be used to make it sustainable. We will create a sago plantation food estate that will be better," he said.
