JAKARTA – Directorate General of Horticulture of the Ministry of Agriculture targets Indonesia to have more than 8,000 horticulture villages by the end of 2024.
This was stated by the Director General of Horticulture, Prihasto Setyanto, on Wednesday (6/9), saying that horticulture could play a role in realizing the dream of Golden Indonesia 2045.
“With the support of all parties, Insha Allah, it can certainly be [made a reality, ed]. … Our target is there will be thousands of fruit villages opened by 2024,” he told The Editor.
The fruit village that Anto refers to is none other than part of the Horticultural Village program which he launched to focus efforts on the production of horticultural products on a village scale throughout Indonesia.
Horticultural crops are expected to increase the community’s economy by adapting to local natural conditions and requiring less water.
“It is not easy to get at least 35 thousand cubic meters of water needed by rice crops. Horticultural crops, on the other hand, don’t need that much, at most 1/10 or even 1/20,” said Anto.
“This is to save costs. Let’s say, one village can produce tons of mangosteen fruit, for example, it will immediately meet the market needs. Compared to 1 ton of mangosteen harvested from this area, other areas will get 2 tons, it will take a long time to fill at least one truck that can load 5 to 6 tons,” he added.
In its implementation, the Directorate of Horticulture provides guidance and supervision for horticultural farmers in villages throughout Indonesia.
With so many horticultural villages, it is hoped that local horticultural products can be enjoyed by the domestic community and dominate the international market.
