Joining The Harvest With Farmers In Banyuwangi, Puan Maharani Wants Agriculture To Become Agrotourism

Chairman of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani (Private Doc Puan Maharani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, harvests rice with 7 female farmers in Dewi Rembang, Banjar Village, Licin District, Banyuwangi, Friday, November 12.

Accompanied by the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati and Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani, Puan had a dialogue with farmers about agricultural issues in Banyuwangi.

He encouraged agricultural activities to be used as a form of tourism.

"This rice field in Banjar Village, Rembang Hamlet, Licin sub-district is clear evidence that our agricultural activities have great potential to be used as agro-tourism," said Puan in her statement, Friday, November 12.

For information, the rice planted in Dewi Rembang is of the type inpari 32 (hybrid rice) with a land area of 3 hectares.

According to him, the rice fields in Licin District show how the process of cultivating the land to harvest can be a good tourist attraction. Therefore, Puan also encourages agriculture in other areas so that they can take farming activities in Licin as an example.

"Agrotourism like this can be the advantage of Indonesian tourism because we have a lot of agricultural land and plantations," said Puan.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture also praised the solid Banyuwangi community for making agricultural activities something to be proud of. He said that the Banyuwangi people's efforts to preserve culture should be applauded.

“The activities here are carried out in the spirit of gotong royong, collaboration with farmers. Plant together, harvest together, increase productivity, also promote local traditions how to plow the land, and plant. But the people of Banyuwangi are also open to the times, doing modern agriculture using rice transplanters. This means that farmers in agro-tourism are not spectators but actors," said the grandson of the Proclaimer of the Republic of Indonesia.

In addition to harvesting, the Semarang electoral district legislator also provided a number of assistance to the people of Banyuwangi, including hand tractors, water pumps and sprayers.

Not to forget for the Disabled Group, Puan provided 50 wheelchairs, 25 hearing aids, 10 electric sticks and basic necessities to be distributed by the Banyuwangi Regency Government. Puan also provided assistance for 3 students in the form of laptops, tools kits, and creative video facilities.

Not only that, as many as 215 packages were given as compensation for widows and 200 orphans who were victims of COVID-19 which was carried out symbolically.

"Hopefully this little help can ease the burden on the residents. My presence here is also an effort to absorb the aspirations of the people. If there is a problem, we will help find a solution," concluded Puan.