Merangin is rich in culture-based economy, Mashuri promises to develop Kepayang and Naw.

TRIBUNJAMBI.COM, BANGKO - The culturally based economic wealth of Merangin Regency requires optimal exploration and management.

Merangin Regent Mashuri stated that various community training programs are crucial.

Mashuri made this statement during an audience with the Sekar Kawung Foundation and representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture at the Merangin Regent's Official Residence on Friday (October 8, 2021).

Mashuri praised the Sekar Kawung Foundation and the Ministry of Education and Culture for conducting cultural-based economic training in Beringin Tinggi Village, East Jangkat District.

According to him, the cultural-based economy is not limited to training, but is also socialized from the sub-district level down to the villages.

"The goal is to better preserve nature, enrich culture, and create prosperity from there," he said.

The Regent promised to develop the Kepayang oil refinery and increase the number of Kepayang tree plantations. Meanwhile, Naw has long been a target for Merangin to continue developing.

"We will develop the Kepayang and Naw oil refinery, which has also been our target for a long time," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Candra Kirana from the Sekar Kawung Foundation stated that the training aimed to explore and develop economic potential based on local culture in the East Jangkat area.

"Kepayang oil is one of Merangin's culinary traditions. The Kepayang tree actually has excellent value, excellent quality, and is a host tree," he said.

According to the founder of the Sekar Kawung Foundation, the Kepayang tree is called the Host Tree because it provides life to many other tree species in the surrounding area.

"If we lose the Kepayang tree, the surrounding ecosystem will also disappear. So, we will not only lose Kepayang oil from our culinary heritage, but our natural environment will also be increasingly damaged," he said.

Candra Kirana emphasized that oils and products that preserve nature and tradition are sought after in the market. Therefore, revitalizing Kepayang oil will be good for the economy in Merangin Regency. (Tribunjambi.com/ Darwin Sijabat)

*This article reported by Tribun Jambi https://jambi.tribunnews.com/2021/10/08/merangin-kaya-perekonomian-berbasis-budaya-mashuri-janji-akan-kembangkan-kepayang-dan-naw and originally written in Bahasa Indonesia.