Plan on `Agropolitan' announced<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Municipal Agriculture Office has drawn up a
\nstrategic plan for maximizing the use of small plots of land by
\nplanting crops with high economic value.<\/p>\n
Maharanto, the chief of the office, said that the
\n\"agropolitan\" policy was established to cope with the fact that
\nthe area of farmland in Jakarta has decreased every year to make
\nway for construction.<\/p>\n
\"We decided to concentrate on the 'agropolitan' pattern in
\nwhich high technology is used to produce high quality output from
\nsmall plots of land,\" Maharanto told reporters here yesterday at
\na press conference on a horticulture exhibition.<\/p>\n
He cited fruit, vegetables and orchids as crops with high
\neconomic values.<\/p>\n
Available data show that in Jakarta there are a total of 3,333
\nhectares of rice fields and 27,874 hectares of plantations. In
\n1993 the area of farmland had decreased by 12 percent from the
\nprevious year.<\/p>\n
Maharanto said that the office will try to keep the program in
\nline with city planning.<\/p>\n
He explained that Jakarta's agricultural products cannot meet
\nthe ever increasing demands from the public. Last year the demand
\nfor fruit reached 209,883 tons, while plantations in and around
\nthe capital produced only 42,314 tons. The demand for vegetables
\nin the corresponding period was 373,291 tons and the production
\nwas 47,603 tons.<\/p>\n
\"The shortages are usually covered from other provinces, such
\nas West Java, Central Java, East Java and Lampung, as well as by
\nimports from other countries. Nationally, Indonesia's imports of
\nfruits and vegetables account for 12 percent of the total
\ndemand,\" Maharanto said.<\/p>\n
In cooperation with an agricultural association, his office
\nhas started a program to make agriculture more profitable through
\npublic presentation and special courses. Little impact has been
\nfelt from this effort as yet.<\/p>\n
\"Most Jakartans are not patient enough to wait, they want a
\nquick investment return. I understand the situation because
\nagriculture needs big investment and it takes time before things
\nstart to produce,\" Maharanto explained.<\/p>\n
He added that most Jakartans prefer to invest in the property
\nbusiness, by building structures on their land for rent.<\/p>\n
Maharanto said that his office will hold a horticulture
\nexhibition at the Ragunan Camping Ground, South Jakarta, from
\nDec. 8 to Dec. 18. It will present many kinds of Indonesian
\nplants, including rare ones. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/plan-on-agropolitan-announced-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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