Agricom.id, TANAH DATAR - Badan Ketahanan Pangan (BKP) Ministry of Agriculture Indonesian Republic develops agro eduwisata (AEW) to be taken for advantage as the education and tourism spot from the upstream to downstream sectors. AEW is part of big vision of Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo to make agriculture as the main pillar of economy nationally.

“The targets of AEW are the first, as the learning spot; the second, people should be welfare; and the third, the people would get additional income – not only from agriculture but also from tourism sectors,” Head of BKP, Agung Hendriadi said in the soft launching AEW Le Marsi, Pandai Sikek, District of Tanah Datar, West Sumatera Province, Tuesday (22/12/2020) as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

He thought that the AEW would not for tour activity but also as the educational infrastructures. It means that the spot could be as the learning process for anyone, such as, farmers from many regions, the people, students, and children to learn about agriculture.

“That is why, AEW should be great both in the infrastructure, the planting, and the farmers from the upstream to downstream. In the first place, there would be infrastructure area management and then the cultivation development,” he said.

In the soft launching, accompanied by Head of Pusat Distribusi dan Cadangan Pangan, Risfaheri, Agung hoped the supports from the regional officers to mobilize the people and other related stakeholders to develop AEW together.

Regional Secretary District of Tanah Datar, Irwandi did welcome the good hope of Head of BKP to develop AEW by synergizing five sectors, such as, the private, media, people, university, and regional autonomy or called "Sakato".

"We do hope that AEW could be developed to increase the economy within the full synergy support of Sakato and could make the better tourism destination in District of Tanah Datar," he said.

For information, AEW Le Marsi stands for Lembah Marapi and Singgalang. It is selected as one location of AEW from BKP Ministry of Agriculture in 2020 within the main base of vegetables in the agricultural regions. AEW Le Marsi would offer natural sightseeing for it is between Marapi and Singgalang Mauntains.

It is about 60 km or two hour – trip from Minangkabau Airport and only about 3 km from the national way from Padang - Bukit Tinggi. It is in the famous weaving crafts in Pandai Sikek which. Le Marsi is the main goal of tourism both from the domestic and international level.

AEW Le Marsi is managed by Kelompok Tani Batu Badaguak within the memebrs 20 men and total planting more than 10 hectares. (A2)