Central Java Provincial Government Protects Farmers via JTAB 'Petani Gajian' Programme
The Central Java Provincial Government, through PT Jawa Tengah Agro Berdikari (JTAB), has rolled out the JTAB ‘Petani Gajian’ (Farmers’ Salary) programme to protect the welfare of farmers and maintain the stability of harvests and commodity prices.
Through this programme, PT JTAB provides capital to farmers in exchange for the entirety of their harvest being sold to the company. The selling price is guaranteed to align with government standards. The proceeds from the sales are subsequently used to deduct production costs and the salaries provided by PT JtAB during the planting period. Any remaining surplus from the sales will be returned to the farmers.
The Governor of Central Java, Ahmad Luthfi, assessed that the concept and implementation of the JTAB ‘Petani Gajian’ programme are fundamentally sound. During an audience with the President Director of PT JTAB, Totok Agus Siswanto, Luthfi expressed his hope that the programme could be expanded, particularly as Central Java possesses approximately 1.5 million hectares of agricultural land.
“This is good. It must be expanded. JTAB should coordinate further with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, which holds the data, to identify which regencies can be covered by this programme. If it can be covered entirely, it will ensure security because there will be certainty for the farmers,” Luthfi stated in Semarang on Thursday (17/9).
The President Director of PT JTAB, Totok Agus Siswanto, noted that as of September 2026, approximately 80 farmers with a total land area of around 200 hectares are participating in the JTAB ‘Petani Gajian’ programme. The participating farmers include both landowners and tenant farmers, covering commodities such as rice, shallots, and maize. These farmers are located in Sukoharjo, Sragen, Klaten, Semarang, and other areas across Central Java.
“Through the JTAB ‘Petani Gajian’ programme, we provide guaranteed yields to farmers, capital assistance, and guidance on which commodities to plant. Furthermore, we provide an income (salary) in accordance with the regional minimum wage (UMK) per hectare, and we act as the off-taker for the harvest,” said Totok.
Regarding capital and farmer salaries, PT JTAB is collaborating with PT BPR BKK and Jamkrida for farmer credit, as well as Jasindo for crop failure insurance. JTAB aims to accommodate approximately one thousand farmers through this programme.
“Our hope is that with such clarity and a bright future, our young farmers will be encouraged to enter the agricultural sector. From the outset, we have an agreement on the purchase price of the harvest,” he added.
The benefits of the JTAB ‘Petani Gajian’ programme have been acknowledged by the farmers themselves. One participant, Ruswanto from Sukoharjo Regency, noted that through this programme, he no longer faces difficulties in seeking capital, as he receives assistance from the initial land preparation and planting stages through to fertilisation and harvest.
“The sale of rice is also managed by PT JTAB. I support this and hope the network can be expanded and increased,” concluded Ruswanto.