Boosting Production, Ganjar Inaugurates Garlic Learning Center In Tegal

Ganjar Pranowo (Photo via Central Java Provincial Government)

JAKARTA - The revival of garlic production in Central Java continues to be encouraged. One of them is through the Garlic Learning Center in Tegal Regency which was inaugurated by the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo.

Governor Ganjar Pranowo wants the learning center to be a dynamic learning place, and a learning center for anyone, from anywhere.

“It is hoped that this Learning Center will not become a static dead space but a dynamic space. The results of the training can also be uploaded so that it can be accessed by many people. Later, it will actually become a place of learning, not only in Tegal Regency, but for anyone who wants it," said Ganjar as quoted from the Central Java Provincial Government website, Sunday, August 14.

Ganjar explained that the learning center was successfully realized through collaboration between Bank Indonesia, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), and local governments, both provincial and district/city. Furthermore, the only thing left is collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the local government, in order to achieve the target of meeting the domestic demand for garlic. Currently domestic garlic production is still too small to meet the needs of the community, which is only about 20 percent.

“Thank you BI and IPB for facilitating. Earlier, the seeds looked right, that this had been tested and the results were visible. We just have to see the trend. We hope that the desired achievement or target can be achieved, maybe onion self-sufficiency is not, but close to production or the need can be fulfilled above the mandatory 50 percent in my opinion. If it's only 20 percent now, I think it's too small,” he explained.

The existence of a garlic learning center in Tegal Regency is part of the order of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, to maintain food security and the national movement to control food inflation. For the national movement to control inflation, the central government focuses on aiding chili seeds.

Meanwhile, for the Central Java area, especially in Tegal and Temanggung Regencies, garlic seeds were also added.

“This has garlic, chili is the national name, and we will try to empower households to plant later, so that it becomes a real action. We thank you for the collaboration between BI, IPB, regencies/cities in the regions, the Ministry in my opinion is good. Stay boosted. The place is chosen, give an assignment there so that it is measured. Finally, we think about the off taker so that the farmers smile,” said Ganjar.

Regarding off takers, he said, they could use the strengths of agencies, such as from local governments, BUMN, and BUMD. This step has been carried out by the Central Java Provincial Government, by being the off taker of a number of commodities to stabilize prices. In this case, Ganjar gave an example of the ASN movement to buy farmer's products when the selling price in the market fell.

"We can do that or it can be processed. In fact, it is the processing that can take care of it. Sometimes we eat chili, we want it to be fresh, but we saw that there was nothing processed. It just takes a habit. If that can be done, then the inflation control can be better, “explained Ganjar.

Before attending the inauguration of the Garlic Learning Center, Ganjar first participated in harvesting garlic with the farmers. The harvest was also attended by BI Deputy Governor Aida S Budiman, IPB Chancellor Arif Satria, Bank Indonesia Central Java Representative Rahmat Dwi Saputra.

BI Deputy Governor, Aida S Budiman, said that the inflation rate in Indonesia was quite high in recent months. One of them comes from food or horticultural commodities. The National Movement to Control Food Inflation is an order from the President to maintain inflation in Indonesia.

This movement started from the island of Java this month. The next will be carried out in Sumatra, Sulawesi, Papua, Kalimantan, and finally in Bali-Nusa Tenggara.

“Our inflation, which has almost reached five percent, is 11.47 percent from food. So, as Governor Ganjar said, this is a problem for the nation's stomach. That's why we need to protect it," he said.

Head of Bank Indonesia Representative for Central Java Province, Rahmat Dwi Saputra, added that today, 17,845 chili seeds were also given assistance. The assistance was given to women's farmer groups, subsystems, pesantren, and farmer groups in Central Java, to be planted in their respective yards and lands.

“Red chili is in Blora and Pati, shallots are between Brebes and Demak. Garlic in Tegal and Temanggung," he said.