DKI Intensifies Urban Agriculture through Major Harvest at 807 Locations
The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is intensifying efforts to strengthen food security and urban agriculture through a major harvest event at 807 sites across Jakarta.
“This major harvest event is attended by all regional leaders from the five city areas and one regency, spread across 807 harvest locations,” said Head of the DKI Jakarta Food Security, Maritime, and Agriculture Office (KPKP), Hasudungan Sidabalok, at a farming plot on Jalan Raya Pulo Gebang, RT 12/RW 06, Cakung, East Jakarta, on Monday.
He revealed that to date, around 98% of the capital’s food needs are still supplied from outside the region, while only 2% can be met independently.
“This situation presents both a challenge and motivation for us, together with the community and regional leaders, to continuously improve productivity on the available land in DKI Jakarta,” Hasudungan stated.
The event is spread across 807 locations throughout DKI Jakarta, with East Jakarta having the most harvest points at 414 sites.
This is followed by South Jakarta with 177 locations, North Jakarta with 94, West Jakarta with 60, Central Jakarta with 58, and the Thousand Islands with 4.
One of the main locations for the event is centred at the Pulo Gebang Agricultural Land Greenhouse area in East Jakarta.
In the future, that site is targeted to become an agro-education zone as well as an agriculture-based tourism destination in the heart of the city.
In addition to East Jakarta, the harvest activities are also taking place at several pilot sites in other regions, including the Central Jakarta Mayor’s Office balcony urban farming, GSG 07 Kembangan Utara in West Jakarta, the Child-Friendly Integrated Public Space (RPTRA) Cilandak KKO in South Jakarta, RPTRA Sunter Jaya Berseri in North Jakarta, and the Tidung Kecil Island area in the Thousand Islands.
Hasudungan explained that the total area of agricultural land harvested in the major harvest event reaches around 12,567 square metres.
These lands are developed as integrated agricultural zones that serve as showcases for urban agriculture in Jakarta.
The harvested commodities include chillies, various types of vegetables, fruits, food crops, family medicinal plants (TOGA), and consumption fish. Overall, the potential harvest yield from this event is estimated at 15 tonnes.
According to Hasudungan, the success of the major harvest is inseparable from the collaboration of various parties, starting from the local government, civil servants (ASN), Family Empowerment and Welfare Cadres (PKK), farming groups, to the general public.
The enthusiasm shown, he said, proves that awareness of the importance of food security is increasingly growing among the urban community.
“This major harvest is not just an activity of harvesting, but also a symbol of our collective efforts in meeting daily food needs, starting from the smallest environment, namely home yards,” Hasudungan remarked.
Through the optimisation of limited spaces, the community is encouraged to utilise yards, balconies, and public spaces as sources of food production.
The event also forms part of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government’s commitment, together with the PKK Driving Team, in promoting community-based food independence. In the future, similar programmes are hoped to continue and reach more areas in Jakarta.
“Our hope is that this becomes a sustainable movement capable of making a real contribution to realising a greener, healthier, more competitive, and food-secure Jakarta,” Hasudungan stated.
On that occasion, he also appreciated all parties who have contributed to the success of the event, including city government officials, related Regional Work Units (SKPD), the banking sector, as well as communities and media that supported the simultaneous major harvest across all DKI Jakarta regions.
“With the spirit of collaboration and innovation, the Provincial Government is optimistic about gradually increasing food independence, despite limited land and high dependence on supplies from outside the region,” Hasudungan explained.
The number of PKK cadres, farming groups, and urban farming communities contributing to the simultaneous harvest reaches approximately 3,000 people.
Attendees at the event included, among others, Chair of the DKI Jakarta PKK Driving Team Endang Nugrahani Pramono, Vice Chair of the DKI Jakarta PKK Driving Team Dewi Indriati Rano Karno, Chair of the East Jakarta PKK Driving Team Essie Feransie Munjirin, East Jakarta Mayor Munjirin, Head of the East Jakarta KPKP Sub-Directorate Taufik Yulianto, and other regional officials.