Pangkalpinang (Antara Babel) - The provincial administration of Bangka Belitung (Babel) said it will make productive idle lands in former former tin mining concessions by turning them into livestock farms.
Bangka Belitung has been the country's largest tin mining operation area .
"This year we will use 22 hectares of the idle lands in Belitung Timur to build integrated cattle farm," head of the provincial animal husbandry service Toni Batubara said.
The purpose is to achieve self sufficiency in meat supply in the region, Toni said here on Thursday.
He said the prospects are encouraging to increase the cow population in the region.
"In order to support the program we will distribute 50 good quality breeder cows among groups of farmers," he said.
The regional administration will also provide consulting service for farmers, built stalls, fodder fields, food processing plant and other facilities, he said.
"Hopefully the program would be a success . If the program in Belitung Timur is successful it would be expanded to other districts where vast areas have been left idle by tin miners," he said.
He said for many years the lands have been left idle and unproductive.
"There are hundreds of hectares of lands have been abandoned by tin miners that need to be made productive in the province," he said.
The regional administration is set to make the lands productive to contribute to the government's program in the agricultural sector, he said.
"We have carried out surveys and take inventory of the lands to be developed into livestock farms and to prevent possible illegal claim over land ownership," he added.
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bangka Belitung 2015
Bangka Belitung has been the country's largest tin mining operation area .
"This year we will use 22 hectares of the idle lands in Belitung Timur to build integrated cattle farm," head of the provincial animal husbandry service Toni Batubara said.
The purpose is to achieve self sufficiency in meat supply in the region, Toni said here on Thursday.
He said the prospects are encouraging to increase the cow population in the region.
"In order to support the program we will distribute 50 good quality breeder cows among groups of farmers," he said.
The regional administration will also provide consulting service for farmers, built stalls, fodder fields, food processing plant and other facilities, he said.
"Hopefully the program would be a success . If the program in Belitung Timur is successful it would be expanded to other districts where vast areas have been left idle by tin miners," he said.
He said for many years the lands have been left idle and unproductive.
"There are hundreds of hectares of lands have been abandoned by tin miners that need to be made productive in the province," he said.
The regional administration is set to make the lands productive to contribute to the government's program in the agricultural sector, he said.
"We have carried out surveys and take inventory of the lands to be developed into livestock farms and to prevent possible illegal claim over land ownership," he added.
Editor : Mulki
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bangka Belitung 2015