Farmers of red ginger in Lebak Banten cooperate with Bintang Toedjoe

The existence of a farmer coaching program is still essential, especially during the Covid-19 outbreak. As a result, it has the potential to boost the output of farmers' harvests.

For the last year, the Dharma Bhakti Astra Foundation (YDBA) has been cultivating red ginger farmers in Hariang Village, Lebak, Banten. The coaching program's goal is to help red ginger farmers become self-sufficient and earn more money.

According to Dani Kurnia, YDBA Project Coordinator in Lebak, The YDBA red ginger center development involves 30 farmers in Hariang Village.

He thinks that this year's yield might equal 16 tons of red ginger produced by Baduy and non-Baduy farmers. "This year's crop of 16 tons from 30 farmers will be transported to PT Bintang Toedjoe," Dani told KONTAN on Thursday (21/10).

In all, Hariang Village has 85 hectares of potential red ginger land. The initial phase of the new program would concentrate on 2.5 hectares of land owned by 30 red ginger farmers.

The primary issue for ginger farmers in Hariang Village, according to Dani, is selling or marketing red ginger. This issue reduces the harvest of red ginger producers in Hariang.

However, after YDBA enters into a partnership with PT Bintang Toedjoe, the cultivated farmers will be absorbed by this subsidiary of PT Kalbe Farma Tbk in accordance with the required quality, cost, and delivery (QCD) criteria.

Furthermore, PT Bintang Toedjoe gave technical instruction in red ginger cultivation. Meanwhile, YDBA guarantees that farmers to grow red ginger in accordance with QCD by giving administrative direction and regularly checking their operations.

YDBA has provided fundamental mindset training, education and guidance in simple accounting, technical training on red ginger cultivation, and instruction on red ginger planting.

Asrip, a Baduy red ginger farmer from Cisaban Village, stated that before being a YDBA sponsored farmer, he sold red ginger to the market. He can only obtain 3.7 quintals after harvesting, for a total of Rp. 7.9 million.

However, with proper direction, Baduy farmers with 3,000 m2 of land may harvest up to 2.5 tons of red ginger. "I'd want to boost the production from three tons to four tons," Asrip explained.

Basri Sarwo's Edi saw an increase in red ginger output as well. Previously, these non-Baduy red ginger farmers could only produce 40 kg of red ginger in a single harvest. However, they can now create 2.2 tons at a time.

Despite the fact that it can boost agricultural yields, red ginger production challenges remain. Specifically, the effects of water on ginger plants and pests. Farmers are overcoming this by creating canals and using organic fertilizers.