Through Vocational Training, The Micro Business Capacity Of Humbang Hasundutan Farmers Is Improved

Illustration of agriculture and plantations (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (Kemenkop UKM) through the Deputy for Micro Enterprises organizes activities aimed at increasing the micro business capacity of durian processed products through vocational training in the agricultural/plant sector for beneficiaries of agrarian reform and social forestry in Humbang Hasundutan Regency.

This activity is a follow-up to Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 28 concerning Integrated Planning for the Acceleration of Social Forest Management Management. In this case, KemenKopUKM is given the mandate to take a role in providing training and developing human resources for business actors in the agricultural/plant sector.

Deputy for Micro Business at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Yulius, said that this activity aims to increase the knowledge and skills of farmers.

"Our goal is to provide added value to products originating from durian fruit preparations, thus providing entrepreneurial opportunities and improving the economy of the people around this region," he said in a written statement, quoted Monday, July 10.

He added that his party was working with the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) and the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan). In this case, the Ministry of Agriculture provides 1,000 durian tree seedlings through the UPTD Horticultural Identification Seed of the Johor-Medan Building.

"To make the Presidential Decree No. 28 of 2023 a success regarding Integrated Planning for the Acceleration of Social Forest Management, we cannot run alone, we must cooperate with various parties," said Yulius.

On the same occasion, the Head of the Humbang Hasundutan Regency Cooperative, Trade and Manpower Office, Nurliza E Pasaribu, said Humbang Hasundutan Regency was an agrarian-style area.

"The agricultural sector is the largest supporter of the community's economic resources because almost 90 percent of the people are farmers," he said.

Nurliza explained, Humbang Hasundutan Regency has plantation potential that can be developed, such as Arabica coffee, rubber, cocoa, to durian.

"As an implementation of the President's direction regarding the integration of community empowerment in social forestry locations, we hope that with the training on the development of micro business capacity in the agricultural/plant sector, it will be able to improve the community's economy and create jobs," he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Tani Humbang Hasundutan Regency Group, Salmon Sihotang, said that his party was confident that he could become an agent of change in providing added value to the processed durian products.

"God willing, I am sure, we can become agents of change. Because, this is the first time we have received training like this," he said.

Salmon said that so far she and her community have experienced problems because they have not received training and education in the field, especially the plants they have planted so far such as rubber have not provided a fairly good economic value.

"With rubber prices that often fall, we hope that durian commodities and their processed products can help our economy, farmers," he concluded.

For your information, Humbang Hasundutan Regency was elected because previously in February 2022 the district received a Social Forestry Decree from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).