Government to establish Agrotourism complex<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In a move to help traders survive the continuing
\nslump in business, the city administration is planning to develop
\nthe Flower and Decorative Plants Promotion Center in Rawa Belong,
\nWest Jakarta, into an Agrobusiness Tourism site, an official said
\non Friday.<\/p>\n
\"We plan to develop the area as a tourist destination,\" the
\ncenter's head Bambang Wisanggeni said.<\/p>\n
The plan will help boost business, especially for the flower
\ntrade, which has been on a downward trend since the economic
\ncrisis hit the country in mid-1997.<\/p>\n
Data at the center shows a decreasing trend in orchid sales
\nwhich stood at Rp 4.2 billion in 1997 and fell to Rp 3.3 billion
\nin 1998. While for subtropical flowers (including roses) the
\nsales were recorded at Rp 8.4 billion in 1997 and dropped to Rp
\n7.2 billion in 1998. Bambang said the numbers had picked up
\nslightly in 1999.<\/p>\n
He said the project will also enhance the city's tourism.<\/p>\n
\"The project will benefit from the area's popular image as a
\nhotbed for decorative plants,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bambang said the idea had gotten the City Development Planning
\nBoard's approval. \"We'll also coordinate with the City Tourism
\nAgency.\"<\/p>\n
Aside from the Agrotourism project, the center plans to finish
\nits current project of establishing an area for decorative plants
\nin May, ahead of the upcoming exhibition by the City Agricultural
\nAgency which is slated for the middle of this year.<\/p>\n
Bambang emphasized the importance of increasing farmers'
\nparticipation in exhibitions, a move that will help them widen
\ntheir marketing networks.<\/p>\n
The center will continue to provide information for farmers in
\nsorting, grading and packaging the cut-flowers prior to
\ndistribution.<\/p>\n
Campaign<\/p>\n
Bambang said the center was considering the idea of organizing
\ncampaigns persuading people to buy flowers, a move which would
\nhelp flower farmers immensely.<\/p>\n
\"We get the cut-flowers from various farmers, including from
\nCentral and East Java.\"<\/p>\n
He said farmers were seriously hit by the economic crisis as
\nsupplies were constant but the number of buyers had dropped
\nsignificantly.<\/p>\n
He praised some farmers for their cleverness by selling dried
\nflowers processed from the piles of unsold fresh flowers.<\/p>\n
\"They develop their own ways to dry the flowers, but since
\nthey have little knowledge of the process, they use certain kinds
\nof flowers which do not need delicate handling and a complex
\ndrying process,\" he said.<\/p>\n
His office would help develop methods to dry delicate flowers,
\nsuch as roses, Bambang added. (06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-establish-agrotourism-complex-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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