Flower market

Flower market

A nice picture drew our attention to the July 29 front page
article featuring the Rawa Belong flower market. An expo is
expected to kick-start the flower buzz and lure tourists with a
mix of Betawi folklore, colorful flowers and a donated computer.

Decent wishes! But how many farmers, suppliers, drivers,
florists, dealers, workers and parking attendants can really live
on an estimated turnover of US$200,000 (compiled from the figures
in the report) per year? Can this system even absorb more
dropouts and migrant workers?

In fact the Rawa Belong market nowadays is just of marginal
importance to the flower trade in Jakarta. Florists and big
hotels have their own flower farms in Puncak or have flowers
delivered in refrigerated trucks. Exporters -- only a few -- send
their merchandise right from the source to the airport.

It is a pity; Indonesia should be well positioned to have a
flourishing flower industry. Biodiversity, rich soils, a range of
climates, creative people and cheap labor in abundance would
normally be an ideal breeding ground. Only one factor is lacking,
a competitive open market system with accepted quality standards,
applied by every participant.

Such a transparent marketing system would increase quality and
volume of trade soon, create plenty of jobs for rural unqualified
labor, generate income for various lines of businesses connected
with the flower trade. The flower trade is less important in
Indonesia, but globally it is a multibillion dollar industry.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso didn't address these issues. He
preferred to catch sympathy with a nostalgic look back and a
generation gift.

AXEL SCHEUNEMANN

President Director

PT Agro Maju Exportindo

Tangerang, West Java