Jakarta – Global market competition for horticultural products is getting tougher. Each country in various ways seeks to increase the superiority of its products. In the midst of the competition, Indonesia is demanded to be able to take a strategic role as a producer of competitive horticulture. You do this by continuing to organize and strengthen the production system. Not only the upstream side is being repaired, the downstream side must also be integrated.
“The arrangement of horticultural areas including fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants and medicinal plants must be comprehensive. For example, we have set a target for fruit exports, then the entire horticultural business chain from _on-farm_ to off-farm_, each other must be synergistic and strengthen, “said the Director General of Horticulture, Prihasto Setyanto, in Jakarta, Thursday (19/9).
The Director General, who is familiarly called Anton, is designing a special formula for the development of various horticultural products. This formula is believed to be the answer to the need to improve the quality of exports as well as domestically.
“We must design the arrangement of horticultural areas to become a more comprehensive Grand Design and be able to answer the challenges of an increasingly dynamic global market. “The span of 2020-2024 will be the period that determines whether we are able to compete in the global market or not,” he said.
According to the youngest Director General at the Ministry of Agriculture, the global market demands quality and safe consumption of horticultural products. In fact, consumer preferences are no longer merely product oriented, but have begun to consider how the product process is produced.
“Like it or not, an environmentally friendly cultivation system is a necessity. Horticultural production systems must be positively correlated to improving environmental quality, for example contributing to reducing CO2 emissions,” Anton said.
For this reason, said Anton, the provision of superior seeds must really be considered. Pre-supporting facilities such as irrigation, farming roads, agricultural machinery, post-harvest facilities to financing and marketing must combine to form harmonious networks. This includes strengthening the capacity of farmer and institutional human resources.
“We can no longer talk about land spots. It must be on a wide-scale and corporate-based scale. In one region, all relevant parties enter it. Hulu Hilir are all interconnected. Imagine how we want to push the durian export protocol or compete with the state. competitors, if our durian production area is still scattered ?, “he said. “Well, this commitment must be built together, both the central and regional governments. Must be remapped land that will be designed into a horticultural corporation area,” Anton explained.
Contacted separately, the Director of Fruit and Floriculture, Liferdi Lukman, said that his party had now begun building an integrated durian area in Simpur Village, Belik District, Pemalang Regency.
“Initially we planted 10 hectares in one stretch as a pilot start. Next year we will add another 200 hectares, so that the total will reach 210 hectares in one region,” said Liferdi.
Since its inception, it has collaborated with various related parties to pioneer the durian area. The area was built on social forestry land whose management is carried out by forest farmer groups or KTH.
“We involve the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Directorate General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities, the Agriculture and Food Security Office of Pemalang Regency, the Public Works Office, the local Village Government, KTH, KTH assistants, practitioners of the general public to business people who want and are able to become market guarantees or _off-takers_ , “said Liferdi.
Liferdi explained that the durian seeds were selected from superior and adaptive seeds with local agro-climate. It also helped prepare irrigation facilities. The socialization of environmentally friendly cultivation was carried out early. Even post-harvest handling plans, supporting processed industries, human resource capacity building, financing to marketing are also included in the design.
“In the future, in addition to being a commercial area, the area will also be directed to become an agrotourism area in order to improve farmer institutions. From ordinary farmer groups to tourism conscious groups or Pokdarwis who care about the environment and are at the same time oriented business. Certainly those involved will be more numerous and the scope will be wider. Strengthening agribusiness-based business partnerships is the main thing. That’s just a small example of durian, we will arrange and re-design other commodities, “concluded Liferdi.