Technological Innovation of Muna Teak and Its Contribution Toward the Improvement of the Social Economy in Muna District

Muna Teak is known for its good quality wood and beautiful fiber. At present, remaining teak forests in Muna Regency are very limited due to the high level of degradation. This circumtance can drive the extinction of the genetic resources of Muna Teak. Therefore the efforts for reforestation of Muna Teak is needed continuously. The acceleration of reforesting Muna with teak requires innovation and new breakthrough, one of them is by increasing genetic diversity and producing superior clones by mutation techniques. What and how the innovations carried out and their impact on the community of teak farming farmers in Muna Regency are the questions and objectives of this research. This is qualitative research and the results are analyzed descriptively. Data collection carried out were interviews with questionnaires, depth interviews, field observations and literature studies. The results show that the use of technological innovation on Muna Teak by conducting breeding mutations, vegetative mass propagation, tissue culture and applying intensive silviculture techniques were able to accelerate harvest time, produce the highest quality wood and raise the selling prices. At the beginning of the planting period farmers can practice the intercropping system until the third year so that it can improve their socio-economic conditions