Banten Provincial Police Utilise Former Mining Land for Maize Planting

Idle former mining land that has been reforested can still be utilised through intercropping systems. Cilegon (ANTARA) - The Banten Provincial Police, along with its units and farming groups mentored by the Water and Air Police Unit of the Banten Provincial Police, are utilising former mining land to plant maize seedlings on four hectares of fallow land owned by residents in Bagendung Neighbourhood, Cilegon City. The Chief of Banten Police, Inspector General Hengki, in Cilegon on Thursday, called on local governments, from regency/city levels to sub-districts and villages, to optimise the use of fallow land, particularly former mining excavation areas, to make them more productive and provide economic value to the community. “Reforested former mining land can still be utilised with intercropping systems. While waiting for hardwood trees like coconuts to bear fruit in a few years, the land can be planted with maize that can be harvested every four months,” said the Chief of Police. The fallow and former mining land is now managed by farming groups partnered with the Water and Air Police Unit of the Banten Provincial Police for maize cultivation. This strategic step is considered capable of increasing production while reducing dependence on maize supplies from outside the region. The Chief of Police emphasised the importance of active local government roles in identifying neglected lands. Maize was chosen as the commodity because it has a relatively short planting period, low production costs, and does not require maintenance and irrigation as intensive as rice. Additionally, the selling price of maize in the market is considered quite competitive and beneficial for farmers. Meanwhile, current maize production in Banten only meets around three to five percent of total needs, so the province still relies on supplies from other regions such as Lampung and West Nusa Tenggara. “Through the optimisation of fallow and former mining land, it is hoped that food security in the Banten region can be further strengthened while boosting the welfare of local farmers,” said the Chief of Police.