Save Local Wisdom, Bali Provincial Government Fosters Buleleng Arrack Farmers

BULELENG - The Provincial Government of Bali together with related agencies conducts guidance and supervision to arrack farmers in Bondalem Village and Les Village, Buleleng Regency, as an effort to save one of the local wisdoms.

"This is the Governor's commitment to protect Balinese wine as an ancestral heritage that must be increased in dignity so that it is equal to other drinks that come from outside Bali," said Head of the Bali Trade and Industry Service I Wayan Jarta in Buleleng, quoted by Antara, Friday, June 25.

According to Jarta, the guidance is also to follow up on Governor Regulation No. 1 of 2020 concerning Governance of Balinese Fermented and/or Distilled Drinks.

"The governor's regulation is the Governor's commitment to not only protect local wisdom, but also to develop the Balinese economy according to its potential in line with the vision of Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali," he continued.

The coaching team consisting of elements from the Bali Provincial Government and the Buleleng Regency Government for the first opportunity visited Banjar Selombo, Bondalem Village.

Banjar (hamlet) Selombo is one of the centers of arrack production in Buleleng Regency. In this banjar, there are as many as 50 arrack farmers who use palm water as raw material.

Every day, they are able to process 75 liters of raw materials through a distillation process into 24 liters of arrack with an alcohol content of 23 to 30 percent.

"Like other alcoholic beverages, Balinese fermented and/or distilled beverages can only be sold in certain places or for export in accordance with the provisions of the legislation," said Jarta.

Still in Tejakula Sub-district, the team is also conducting coaching in Les Village. In Les Village, the arrack farmers already have a cooperation unit called "Bali Mula".

The existence of the "Bali Mula" cooperation unit received appreciation from the Head of Industry and Trade of the Province of Bali, I Wayan Jarta. He hopes that this cooperation can help improve the welfare of the arrack farmers in Les Village.

"According to the governor's regulation, cooperation function to support craftsmen in protecting legal aspects, marketing raw materials, coaching, capitalizing, innovation and cooperation with producers," he said.

Previously, a team from the Bali Provincial Government and related agencies had also carried out guidance and supervision to several centers of fermented and/or distillate drink farmers in Karangasem Regency.