Agricom.id, BINTAN - Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) didi visit to Balai Benih Induk (BBI) Pertanian, Animal’s Health, Agriculture, and Food Security Agency in Tembeling,  Toapaya, District of Bintan, Kepulauan Riau (Kepri) Province, Thursday (24/09), and symbolically planted mango and harvested dragon fruit.

He thought that BBI Pertanian has the good chance to develop the agricultural products, namely the horticulture and plantation. He also mentioned that from the region, it should develop the livestock sector in the future because Kepri is near to two countries. This is the power of economy for our country.

"Kepulauan Riau is part of the power of our country. It is very near to Singapore and Malaysia. The acceleration in agriculture, such as, horticulture, plantation, and livestock should be the power of economy, SYL said, as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

He also told to the head of BBI and head of Balai Pengkajuan Teknologi Pertanian (BPTP), Kepulauan Riau who also attended to notice the potential development and what the people and tourists are fond of as the high selling commodities.

“We have extraordinary opportunities. This is different from other regions. We know that Singapore is near. This is open region for you. I think, many tourists visit this region. We need to prepare and support it,” he said.

In the BBI, SYL had chance to plant mango, the Garifta Gading symbolically because it is in soft texture, coarse fiber, sweet, and good taste within about 64,42 Kg per tree per year.

Not only that, he symbolically planted mango, the Sala and continued to harvest dragon fruit next to the mango plantation.

Head of BBI, Nil Erison mentioned that there are horticulture and fruit plantations which were taken from the horticulture research agencies, ministry of agriculture.

“It is about 50 hectares. We have the horticultural products, such as, mango, durian, and avocado. In the plantation, we have nutmeg, clove, and pepper. These were from badan penelitian tanaman buah tropika (Balitbu) and balai penelitian tanaman rempah dan obat (Balittro)," he said. (A2)