Four coconut farmer groups in Selopamioro Village, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta received coconut seedlings from the local government to be planted in early rainy season in mid November 2011. According to Edy Suhariyanta, the Head of Agricultural and Forestry Office of Bantul Regency, the coconut seedling assistance from the government was aimed to replenish the damaged coconut areas due to a major earthquake hit this area in 2006.
A total of 9,750 coconut seedlings were symbolically handed over to the representatives of the farmer groups by Bantul Regent, Sri Suryawidati. In this occasion, the four coconut farmer groups namely Siluk II, Srunggo II, Kalidadap, and Kajor Wetan received coconut seedlings at the amount of 2,400, 2,100, 2,100 and 3,150 respectively. Since the last three years, the local government has provided coconut seedling assistance to coconut farmers and the number of seedlings provided increases from year to year.
Edy Suhariyanta said that Bantul Regency lost a lot of coconut stands after the earthquake. A lot of coconut trees, fell down due to the tremor or were intentionally cut down for house reconstruction. By providing coconut seedling assistance, the local government enables coconut farmers to rehabilitate their damage coconut farms. This seedling assistance program is also in line with the government programs to improve people welfare and the reforestation of barren areas. (http://jagoanberita.com/tampilkan)
Source: Cocommunity, Vol.XLI No.12, 1 December 2011
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