Encourage Urban Farming, Tangerang City Government is Serious about Realizing Food Security during the Pandemic

Kapanlagi.com - The pandemic not only affects health, but also other sectors such as the economy and food security. To improve food security during the pandemic, the City Government of Tangerang through the Food Security Agency (DKP) continues to actively implement food security acceleration programs amid the pandemic.

The program is implemented by utilizing open areas and idle land to be converted into productive areas. The Tangerang City Government continues to distribute productive plant seeds to residents affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, including chili, pakcoy, kangkung, and eggplant seeds, which are distributed to 13 districts.

Since last October, the program has distributed 380 thousand plant seeds to residents affected by Covid-19 in the city of Tangerang. Specifically in the Tangerang District, 1,000 chili plant seeds from the KWT Mawar Berseri breeding program have been distributed.

One of the exemplary areas is Ecofarm Mekarsari, located not far from Ecopark, Neglasari District, which has conducted a bountiful harvest of various consumable plants.

Ecofarm Mekarsari was created by utilizing an idle land measuring 700 square meters with nine planting points and various horticultural plants. This area is a collaboration between the Disbudparman and KWT Jagal (Jaga Aman Lingkungan) of Mekarsari Village, Neglasari District.

Tangerang Mayor Arief R. Wismansyah said that amidst the ongoing pandemic, the city government continues to strive to provide solutions for residents to remain productive, one of which is through the Food Security Program.

"The city government prepares the land and the seeds until the planting process," said Arief recently while inspecting idle land in Kampung Baru, Koang Jaya Village, Karawaci District, Tangerang City.

Through this food security program, the Tangerang City Government hopes to help reduce the daily expenditure burden of Tangerang City residents. Through these vegetable seeds, residents can enjoy the harvest and certainly encourage the habit of gardening among residents, as well as supply the family's vegetable needs with plants in their own homes.

Encourage Urban Farming

Not only utilizing idle land, the Tangerang City Government also transforms slum land into productive land.The Tangerang City Food Security Agency (DKP) is building urban farming on the banks of the Cisadane River.In the initial stage, DKP handed over 600 vegetable seeds to be cultivated on a 3,800 square meter land.Starting from water spinach, chili, tomatoes, eggplant to porang.

"The urban farming program on the banks of the Cisadane River is indeed the focus of DKP, after working on 380 thousand productive trees for residents affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.This time, DKP is utilizing idle land in residential areas," said the Head of DKP Tangerang City, Abduh Surahman.

He also revealed that in this program, DKP helps open land, distribute seeds, and process the land until harvest. "By utilizing the land here sustainably, God willing, the results of the harvest can also be enjoyed together," said Abduh.

Meanwhile, Gandi, one of the residents who participated in cultivating the land on the banks of the Cisadane River, is enthusiastic about participating in this food security program.Especially for him, it can help him and his friends at the same time to fill their free time during this pandemic with positive activities. (*)

(kly/tmi)