Bangka Belitung, The Biggest Pepper Production in Indonesia
By: Sakuri, Editor of MINA News Agency
MINA News Agency reporters consisting of the writer, Nurhadis, and photographer Muhammad Habibi Hizbullah had the opportunity to visit a pepper plantation is owned by PT Cinquer Agro Nusantara (CAN).
Bangka Belitung Province, apart from being known as the best tin producer in the world, it is also known as a producer of pepper, besides oil and rubber.
Rubber, palm and pepper are the three main commodities of Bangka residents.
For the people of Bangka, rubber is a commodity that can be relied upon to support household kitchen shopping needs in the week, while for the necessities of living every month palm oil.
And pepper is a mainstay that can provide a living in a year.
“Pepper is a mainstay commodity every year for Bangka residents,” said Saepul Hidayat, one of PT CAN’s pepper plantation management teams.
Pepper, besides giving hope to increase the income of Bangka residents in the economic field, is also known to have health benefits.
There are at least 10 benefits of pepper, which can reduce body weight, prevent cancer, treat flu symptoms, headaches, control blood pressure, nourish the heart, improve digestion and control blood sugar.
In addition, the benefits of white pepper for the treatment of skin diseases and to overcome vertigo.
Previously, the main activity of Bangka residents in meeting their daily needs was as a tin miner, now the use of ex-mining land into agricultural land has also been developed in this area by returning surface soil and immersing organic material. After 1-2 years, the land is ready to plant pioneer plants such as sengon and acacia. The former tin mining land can also be used for rice cultivation.
At present, as 86 new hectares of rice fields have been printed in Namang and Belilik Villages, Namang District, where the printing uses central and regional government funds to produce 4-5 tons/hectare of rice, with Ciherang rice which is resistant to brown planthopper pests and resistant to bacteria leaf pests (HDB) strains 3 and 4.
In the Namang District area, precisely in Namang Village, there is a protected forest area of 52.4 hectares which is certified to 152.4 Ha. The protected forest of the Kalong or Pelawan functions as a forest tourism area. The forest consists of various species of trees such as gelam, leting, fugitive, and rempodong which are a source of nectar for bees.
According to the Directorate General of Plantations, Bangka Belitung Islands Province and Lampung are the main producers of white pepper (muntok white pepper) and black pepper (Lampung black pepper).
Bangka Belitung is the biggest contributor to pepper production, reaching 39% of the total pepper production in Indonesia.
Still according to Directorate General of Plantation data, the productivity of pepper in Bangka Belitung reaches 1.25 tons per hectare. (AT/RE1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
