Safeguarding Green Gold from the Roots: The Role of the Al Zaytun Supervisory Team in Premium Durian Planting
By: Ali Aminulloh
What is actually being guarded when a supervisory team stands in the middle of the field, observing the mounds of soil at the foot of the durian seedlings? Is it simply ensuring the trees grow straight and green, or is it fostering a deeper awareness of the future? At Ma’had Al Zaytun, planting premium durian is not just an agronomic activity, but part of a larger vision: nurturing green gold from the roots, through a sustainable green economy.
In an effort to improve the economy and welfare of its students, Ma’had Al Zaytun is pursuing a strategy that is not instantaneous, but rather long-term. Tens of thousands of durian trees have been planted as a demonstration of the awareness that economic independence must grow from one’s own land. The choice fell on the Black Thorn durian variety, a high-value premium commodity that demands precision, patience, and knowledge. From this perspective, the green economy is understood not as a slogan, but as a concrete effort to transform the land into a source of sustainable prosperity.
On Monday, January 12, 2026, the Al Zaytun Polytechnic Development Supervisory Team went directly to the field. In addition to overseeing the construction of the Polytechnic’s educational infrastructure, this team also had a strategic mandate: to oversee the planting and maintenance of premium durian trees to ensure they adhere to scientific principles and sustainability. This oversight reflected the awareness that physical and economic development are inseparable from responsible environmental management.
The mounded soil planting technique was one focus of the supervision. Behind these mounds lies a strong ecological awareness. Blackthorn durian trees are known to be highly sensitive to waterlogging and lack of oxygen to the roots. The mounds ensure proper drainage, maintain oxygenated root zones, and prevent root rot, a common problem affecting young durian trees. In this way, the trees are not only planted but also prepared for long and productive lives.
However, this agronomic practice does not stand alone. It is intertwined with the philosophical understanding that nature is not an object of exploitation, but rather a partner in life. Planting durian trees correctly from the start demonstrates respect for the laws of nature. From preparing the soil, installing support stakes to ensure straight stems, to ensuring secure grafting points, all reflect the view that yields should not be forced, but rather cultivated harmoniously.
This ecological awareness is closely linked to social awareness. Blackthorn durian is not planted for the benefit of a few, but as a source of learning, employment, and shared prosperity. Students not only learn economic and environmental theory in the classroom, but also witness firsthand how economic value grows from land tended with knowledge and patience. This green gold is expected to bear fruit not only in the form of harvests, but also in improving the quality of human resources.
The use of stakes for young plants, precise water management, planned pruning, and strengthening soil biology with organic matter and beneficial microbes are all part of this integrated approach. All of this emphasizes that premium durian cannot be born from haphazard practices. It requires supervision, knowledge, and collective awareness, from root to crown.
Ultimately, what Ma’had Al Zaytun is doing through its cultivation of premium durian is a concrete practice of the trilogy of awareness: philosophical, ecological, and social. Philosophical because it places nature as a trust; ecological because it maintains balance and sustainability; and social because it is oriented towards the common good. From that simple mound of earth, Al Zaytun is planting more than just a tree. He is planting the future, believing that green gold will only grow in soil that is cared for with awareness.***
Indonesia, January 12, 2026
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