Growers in Majalengka regency bemoan low vegetable prices

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Majalengka

The price of vegetable paid to growers has been declining in Majalengka regency, West Java province, over the past few months, sparking concern among thousands of farmers in the mountainous area.

The growers have demanded that the government address the problem, saying that otherwise the market garden industry in the area would soon collapse, leaving the growers virtually destitute.

Uso, 50, the head of Argamukti village in Majalengka regency, said on Tuesday that thousands of growers in his village were still planting vegetables even though the prices they were receiving had been on the decline for a number of months. "They have to do it anyway, because they have no other source of livelihood," said Uso.

Uso claimed that there were 2,265 growers in the village, who grew vegetables on a total of 250 hectares of land.

Argamukti, which is located on the western slopes of Ciremai Mountain some 1,200 meters above sea level, is the biggest market gardening center in Majalengka regency. The industry was first established in the area in 1962.

The vegetables are sold in many cities nationwide, including Jakarta, Cirebon, Indramayu, Bandung and Tasikmalaya.

Traders, some from as far away as Lampung and Palembang provinces, travel to Majalengka regency to purchased the growers' produce.

Unfortunately, prices have been consistently declining since January this year.

Dedeng, 43, a grower in Argamukti village, said that the most notable case was the decline of the price of potatoes. He said that potatoes at the end of 2003 fetched Rp 2,400 to Rp 2,600 per kilogram. But now, the price of potatoes had slumped to between Rp 1,600 and Rp 1,700 per kilogram.

"The price of potatoes has dropped by 40 percent," said Dedeng.

Mang Odi, 42, another grower, said that the price of cauliflower reached up to Rp 1,200 per head last year, but now it stood at Rp 300 -- a drop of 70 percent.

Carrots had also been affected by declining prices, dropping to Rp 400 from Rp 1,200 per kilogram last year, or there was 60 percent decrease.

Dedeng and Odi said they did not exactly know what was behind the falling prices. However, Dedeng said he suspected it was due to an oversupply in Majalengka regency.

"Vegetables from outside Majalengka have been coming into the regency," Dedeng said.

Uso demanded that the local government act to overcome the problem, as the growers relied for their livelihoods on the vegetable business.

Some 90 percent of Argamukti households were involved in the market garden industry, said Uso.

Separately, Majalengka Regent Tutty Hayati Anwar said that her administration was seeking a solution to the problem.