The Balai Karantina Pertanian (BKP) Class II Pangkalpinang in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province is facilitating the export of 26.5 tons of dried porang to boost the local economy. The export release of 26.5 tons of dried porang will take place on Friday, September 29th, at Pangkalbalam Port. The 26.5 tons of porang to be exported have been processed into chips or dried form, aiming to encourage entrepreneurs to restore productivity and produce finished porang products. These porang chips are usually further processed into glucomannan flour, porang rice, and the like. Porang is currently cultivated by farmers in Belinyu, Bangka Regency, and Serdang, South Bangka Regency. Growing porang is relatively easy because it can thrive between main crops like oil palm. Even the intensive care process is only required at the beginning, making it a supplementary source of income for farmers.
Acting Governor of the Bangka Belitung Islands, Suganda Pandapotan Pasaribu, appreciates and encourages farmers to develop porang farming. As if porang can be cultivated, it will certainly become a new potential for increasing exports and the welfare of the community. Hence, he urges farmers to plant porang between oil palm and rubber crops and utilize idle land for porang cultivation. The method of planting and caring for porang is relatively easy, and it is hoped that BKP can extensively promote porang cultivation to farmers.
