Indonesia has 30 thousand herbal species, therefore the President is aiming for a world-class herbal research center (here), which we are currently developing together with the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and five u
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, visited the site where the Herbal and Horticultural Science and Technology Park (TSTH2) will be developed in Pollung district's Humbang Hasundutan sub-district, North Sumatra.

"Indonesia has 30 thousand herbal species, therefore the President is aiming for a world-class herbal research center (here), which we are currently developing together with the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and five universities led by IT Del," Pandjaitan said in a statement on his visit to the district on Thursday (February 11, 2021), which was received in Jakarta on Friday.

The herbal center would conduct research on the development of high-quality horticultural seeds, the minister informed.

"This area will become a center for herbal and horticultural seeds and the (research) results can be enjoyed by the community," he added.

The seed center will also support a two thousand-hectare food security program, which will be implemented around the location, he said.

In the future, access roads will be built to integrate the food estate, botanical gardens, and TSTH2 areas, he added.

Road construction is due to begin in March, 2021 and is targeted to be connected in May, 2021 and completed in July, 2021, he informed.

The road is expected to cut the travel time from Silangit Airport to TSTH2 to approximately 45 minutes, he added.

Supporting facilities for TSTH2 will also be built in the areas, including laboratories, collection gardens, hatcheries and research centers, silvopastures, natural tourism, artificial tourism, offices, and accommodations for researchers and guest houses.

"I hope we can plant good and superior seeds here, so that we can be proud to say these seeds are from Pollung. For this reason, it is hoped that the community and the government can cooperate with each other, and most importantly work with the heart," the minister remarked. (INE)



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