The Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry compelled the village administration and community to develop the potential for regional superior products, including tourism villages and nature tourism.

According to Secretary at the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry Arif Rahman Hakim, tourism villages had great prospects in bringing prosperity to the people without overexploitation.

“We expect that this sector can make a big contribution to the economy of the residents,” Hakim noted in an official statement here on Monday.

He emphasized that the village should be able to organize and make the most of the potential of the region to facilitate the development of regional superior products.

“Do not just produce raw materials, but it must have added value,” he noted.

The Social Forestry Program can be used by the community to plant various types of plants that are unique to a village, he pointed out.

“Farmers can utilize the land. However, do not do it individually but join in a channel called a cooperative,” he added.

Thus, the ministry will partner with several startups in the agriculture and fisheries sector to work together and provide assistance in the utilization of social forestry land.

Developing tourist destinations in Indonesia and building the community’s economy from eco-friendly tourism activities must be a priority for everyone, he noted.

It is just that the task could not be done singlehandedly, as it required collaboration from several stakeholders, he noted.

“We must keep on pursuing the spirit of collaboration in mainstreaming the role of MSMEs in the national economy,” he explained.

On the same occasion, member of the Central Java House of Representatives M. Iskhak agreed with Hakim on urging village communities to preserve nature.

“(It is) because, forest damage will cause erosion and landslides,” he stated.

Source: Antara News