"We have prepared several villages in Morotai to become agro-tourism locations. We believe Sail Morotai`s participants will be interested in agro-tourism," head of the North Maluku Agriculture Office, Ghazali Westplat, said here on Tuesday.
Various local fruit-bearing plants, such as banana, cassava, maize, taro, and sweet potato, will be planted and are expected to be ready for harvesting to coincide with Sail Morotai.
Also, the maritime event`s participants will be able to harvest maize and enjoy roasted maize in farming areas.
Local farmers have also been encouraged to plant vegetables to meet the demands during Sail Morotai.
Additionally, the president has issued a presidential decree, No. 4/2012, on the implementation of the Sail Morotai event.
Sail Morotai is aimed at boosting the area's economic development and supporting the quickening development in one of the outermost isles in North Sulawesi.
Indonesia organizes an international sailing event annually on an outer most isle by holding a ship parade and a civic festival, and sees participants attend from several countries.
The previous sailing events included Sail Bunaken (2009), Sail Banda (2010), and Sail Wakatobi (2011). Sail Komodo is planned to be held in 2013.
(Uu.F001/INE)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
