Rembang- A significant moment in shaping the future of Rembang durian was realized in a sarasehan (discussion) held on Saturday, February 3, 2024. Various stakeholders, such as Agus Iwan Haswanto (Head of the Department of Agriculture and Food Security); Slamet Haryanto (Head of the Department of Community Empowerment and Villages); Supriyadi Eko Praptomo (Vice Chairman of the Rembang Regional House of Representatives); durian farmers; academics; and local communities, united to discuss strategies for advancing the durian region and to promote the welfare of the supporting community.
The development of the Rembang durian region has been the main focus of the local government, with a series of efforts to increase durian production and quality to strengthen market competitiveness. Strategic steps include enhancing farmers’ knowledge through training and technical guidance, with the hope of boosting harvest yields and maintaining Rembang durian’s status as a market favorite.
Not only that, the local government is also committed to improving supporting infrastructure, such as repairing durian processing facilities. The enhanced infrastructure is expected to strengthen and maintain production uniformity so that Rembang durian has a more robust, distinctive quality.
The support from the Rembang community is also strongly felt in the effort to advance the durian region. Several environmental and agricultural community groups collaborate with farmers to implement sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices. This movement aims to preserve ecosystem sustainability and enhance durian quality organically.
One of the speakers in the discussion, Septrial Arafat, an academician from the Agroecotechnology Study Program at Diponegoro University, emphasized the need for a dedicated place for durian training, as well as a family tourism spot offering various durian products. One acceleration strategy is to use village land with investor support for its construction.
“We are very excited to collaborate in advancing Rembang durian. Support from the government and the community is crucial for durian development in Rembang. We, as lecturers at PSDKU UNDIP Rembang, are committed to continuously overseeing the improvement of durian quality and environmental preservation,” added Juang Abdi Muhammad, S.AP., M.AP.
Moreover, during the event, plans for developing a durian research center in Rembang were announced. This research center is expected to become a center for innovation and the development of superior durian varieties that can compete in the global market.
This discussion is a concrete form of collaboration between the government, academia, farmers, and the community in planning a better future for Rembang durian. The spirit of cooperation and togetherness is expected to make Rembang not only known as a durian center nationally but also internationally.
