Agricultural Potential of the East Kalimantan Border

Samarinda, 19/7/12. Potensi Unggulan Pertanian di Kawasan perbatasan Kalimantan Timur mendapat perhatian serius baik dari pihak Pemerintah Pusat, Provincial Government and Regency Government in the border area, namely West Kutai Regency, Kabupaten Malinau, dan Kabupaten Nunukan yang meliputi dari 19 Kecamatan yang berbatasan langsung dengan negara Malaysia.

The East Kalimantan Provincial Government is paying serious attention to the East Kalimantan border area as expressed by the Head of the East Kalimantan Bappeda, DR.Ir. Rusmadi.MS "Excellent agriculture in border areas has enormous potential and is highly economical so serious attention is needed, both in terms of processing, management and marketing."

This was stated by the Head of the East Kalimantan Bappeda when chairing a meeting with the Professor Team from the Agricultural Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, led directly by Prof. Husen Sawit sebagai Derektor Riset di Kementrian Pertanian RI bersama rombongan, diantaranya Prof. Suwandi; Prof. Decianto; dan DR. Poang Abdullah di ruang rapat Propeda Bappeda Kaltim Jl. Kusuma Bangsa Samarinda yang dihadiri peserta kurang lebih sebanyak lima puluh orang.

The East Kalimantan border area has the potential for agricultural products that are well known among the upper classes or kingdoms in Malaysia and the Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam, namely Adan rice which comes from the Krayan area. This rice is only suitable for planting in the Krayan area, it has been cultivated in Malaysia but the results are not the same as the original product from Krayan, as well as in other areas, both in Nunukan Regency and Malinau Regency.

Adan rice which comes from Krayan must be protected by the government for its existence, both the land and the area must be protected, as well as the local wisdom of the local community must be maintained to continue to protect the existence of Adan rice which has its own characteristics, said Professor Riyanto who is one of the East Kalimantan Food Estate team when giving his opinion.

Similar to the opinion of Prof. Ratna from Unmul Samarinda, who focuses more on agricultural potential in border areas, must have high economic potential, not only is the agricultural product suitable for the area of origin but also has economic potential so that it has added value to the community, for example the agarwood plant, she said.

Sementara dari pihak Badan Perbatasan dan Daerah Terpencil Provinsi Kaltim yang mengungkapkan bahwa potensi sektor pertanian di kawasan perbatasan sesuai hasil survey langsung terhadap masyarakat perbatasan ada lima unggulan yaitu pertama pengembangan karet hal ini dapat disadari karena pohon karet selain penanaman maupun perawatan mudah, hasil produksinya juga tahan lama jika dibandingkan dengan produk lainnya; kedua kepala sawit sesuai program pemerintah Kalimantan Timur yang saat ini memberikan prioritas unggulan kepada kelapa sawit; dan ketiga tanaman Kakao, hasil tanaman ini sebagian besar dipasarkan di daerah Malaysia; to four Adan rice; Adan rice which has the largest market potential and very high economic value among the upper class citizens of Malaysia and Brunei Daerussalam but is not the main priority for border communities; dan produk unggulan terakhir yang kelima adalah Ikan tangkap maupun budidaya perikanan. Hal ini menjadi prioritas karena di daerah perbatasan sampai saat ini masih kekurangan hasil dari sektor perikanan. (Public Relations of the East Kalimantan Bappeda/Sukandar, S.Sos).

Photo : Meeting activities of the Research Professor Team of the Agricultural Research and Development Agency and the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture in the Propeda meeting room on the second floor of the East Kalimantan Bappeda Jl. Kusuma Nation of Samarinda. Doc. Sukandar, S. Sos