Bupati (Regent) of Luwu Utara, Indah Putri Indriani, has allocated 300 hectares of land to support the South Sulawesi Provincial Government's banana cultivation program, aiming to enhance exports. The initiative aligns with the Gerakan Gemar Menanam Pisang (G2MP) or the Banana Cultivation Movement. The South Sulawesi Provincial Government targets utilizing 500,000 hectares of land in the region for banana cultivation. Indah Putri Indriani expressed full support for the banana cultivation program, emphasizing Luwu Utara's commitment to contribute to the broader regional and national export goals. The allocated land is estimated to accommodate around 2,000 banana plants per hectare, totaling 600,000 banana plants for the entire area. The Regent highlighted the need for verification of the prepared land and clarified that the decision to allocate 300 hectares is provisional, pending further verification processes. The move is part of the broader strategy to promote banana cultivation and aligns with the provincial goal of enhancing export-oriented agricultural activities.
Indriani underscored the agricultural progress in Luwu Utara, citing a significant increase in the annual production of fruits and vegetables. In 2022, the region produced 444,473.40 quintals, marking a substantial growth of 159.48% compared to 2021, which recorded 171,296.76 quintals. Luwu Utara has become a key area for the development of horticultural production in South Sulawesi, particularly for durian, citrus fruits (jeruk siam/keprok), and rambutan. While acknowledging the long-standing cultivation of bananas by local farmers, the Regent pointed out that bananas were traditionally grown as intercrops or companion plants in the main cultivation areas, such as durian or cocoa. Consequently, the production of bananas in Luwu Utara has not reached its full potential. Indriani sees the G2MP program as an opportunity to maximize banana cultivation, leveraging the region's agricultural expertise and contributing significantly to the provincial and national export targets. This strategic move by Luwu Utara reflects a commitment to sustainable agriculture, economic growth, and aligning with broader regional development objectives.
