President Jokowi Inspects Seedling Farm in Mount Merapi National Park Area

President Jokowi inspects a seedling farm in Jurang Jero Mount Merapi National Park area, Magelang regency, Central Java province, Friday (14/2). (Photo by: PR/Rahmat)

In an attempt to conduct reforestation across the country, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo urged the people to grow vetiver grass as well as plants with economic values.

President Jokowi promoted the planting of vetiver grass in landslide-prone areas as well as the upstream side of reservoirs to prevent sediment from entering the reservoirs.

“Another plant such as petai (Parkia speciosa) has a greening function as well as an economic function,” the President said during an inspection in a seedling farm in Jurang Jero Mount Merapi National Park area, Magelang regency, Central Java province, Friday (14/2).

He also exemplified other plants such as jambu kristal (Psidium guajava), durian, and kelengkeng (Dimocarpus longan).

In the area, according to the President, there are also plants that have high likability with strong economic function, such as jengkol (Archidendron pauciflorum) and bambu petung (Dendrocalamus asper).

“This jackfruit is much loved in Yogyakarta, because it is used to cook traditional staple food gudeg (a sweet jacfkfruit stew), but the wood is excellent for furniture, the color is yellow, the fiber is good. This soursop is also good, the pronojiwo (Sterculia javanica) is an endemic here, it is good for medicine,” the President explained. (TGH/EN)

Translated by: Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Reviewed by: Muhardi
Proofread by: Mia M. Bonaedy