Liberica Coffee and Growing Hopes in Padi Jaya
Pontianak (ANTARA) - Amidst vast plantations dominated by oil palm, areca nut, coconut, and rubber, Liberica coffee is now emerging as a new source of hope in Perd Jaya Village, Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan.
A total of 200 Liberica coffee seedlings were brought to the village by a team from the Faculty of Forestry, Tanjungpura University (Untan) Pontianak. The village serves as one of the buffer zones for Untan Pontianak’s Special Purpose Forest Area (KHDTK).
These seedlings are not intended to replace existing crops in residents’ gardens, but rather to serve as an addition to an agroforestry system—a land management pattern that integrates forestry crops with the community’s productive plants.
Erianto, the Head of Community Service (PKM) for the Faculty of Forestry at Untan Pontianak, stated that the existence of the KHDTK should not be viewed solely as an area for education and research. The area must also provide benefits to the surrounding communities.
The Untan Pontianak KHDTK serves functions of education, research, conservation, and community empowerment. Therefore, its management requires cooperation between universities, village governments, and local residents.
“Conservation must go hand in hand with empowerment. The community needs to derive benefits from the existence of the forest area, so that they also develop a sense of ownership and participate in protecting the area,” he said.
The journey to Padi Jaya Village reveals the diverse face of local agriculture. Along the way, residents’ plantations featuring various productive crops, ranging from oil palm and areca nut to coconut and other plants, are visible.
For Erianto and the Untan Pontianak Faculty of Forestry PKM team, these conditions serve as essential capital for the development of Liberica coffee. Economic development for the community does not always have to involve clearing new land.
Productive plants can be integrated into existing plantations while still considering soil characteristics, water management, shade trees, and the community’s capacity for maintenance.