The Governor Of East Java Inaugurates The Agroforestri Kopi Slope Area Of Mount Arjuno

The Governor of East Java (Jatim), Khofifah Indar Parawansa (right) together with the Acting Mayor of Batu Aries Agung Paewai, while attending the inauguration of the Agroforestri Kopi Lereng Arjuno Village Area, in Batu City/ANTARA HO

The Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, inaugurated the Agroforestri Kopi Lereng Arjuno Village at Oyot House, Tanalan Coba, Tulungrejo Village, Batu City, East Java.

Khofifah said that coffee commodities have now succeeded in building communal branding which is able to increase market access to these products, not only domestically but also abroad.

"Kopi saat ini sudah berhasil membangun komunal branding. Dengan komunal branding, jumlah dan keberlanjutan produk kopi untuk pasar ekspor bisa dipenuhi," kata Khofifah dilansir ANTARA, Rabu, 14 Juni.

Khofifah explained, with the potential of this promising product, the quality of coffee must also be determined so that it is according to market standards. This needs to be considered considering the potential of the commodity market is wide open.

"We can also determine the quality to comply with standards. Prepare coffee production properly because the export market potential is large," said Khofifah.

Rural areas can be developed into foreign exchange villages, provided that the unique products are native to the village. Later, the Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI) will provide assistance and reinforcement so that the village can produce foreign exchange.

"The potential when we build synergy with other agencies will have a sustainable impact on strengthening the economy and strengthening the welfare of farmers and the community," he said.

On this occasion, assistance was also provided from the Office of Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning in the form of 100 avocado, pine and 600 commosti coffee sticks to forest farmers.

In addition, Bank Jatim also contributed a donation of Rp. 10 million to forest farmers, and the Social Service provided 24 units of entrepreneurial rombongs and eight units of storefronts, and the Ministry of Agriculture provided apple seeds worth Rp. 175 million.

Acting (Pj) Mayor of Batu Aries Agung Paewai said, Batu City, which has an area of 197 square kilometers, is divided into 15.65 percent of protected forests, 16.8 percent of production forests, and 22.6 percent of conservation forests.

In order to restore the ecological quality of forest areas while still paying attention to the welfare of the community, the Agroforestri Kopi Lereng area of Mount Arjuno is urgently needed.

According to him, the coffee agroforestry area will utilize 500 hectares of land in Tulungrejo Village, 500 hectares of Sumbergondo Village, 300 hectares of Bulukerto Village, and 500 hectares of Giripuro Village.

This coffee agroforestry area will utilize land in a number of villages. Among others, Tulungrejo Village covering an area of 500 hectares, Sumbergondo Village covering an area of 500 hectares, Bulukerto Village covering an area of 300 hectares, and Giripurno Village covering an area of 500 hectares.

"The Kota Batu icon is an apple, the coffee commodity on the slopes of Arjuno is the hope to become an iconic commodity in Batu City. In the concept of sustainable forest, we hope that the community will participate in preserving forest areas," said Aries.