Gunungkidul Regency: Chocolate Festival 4.0 Strengthens Cocoa Downstreaming

The Government of Gunungkidul Regency (Pemkab) has stated that the Chocolate Festival 4.0 event is a momentum to strengthen the downstream processing of cocoa commodities while encouraging synergy between the agriculture, tourism, and creative economy sectors to improve community welfare. Gunungkidul Regent Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih said on Friday that the festival is proof that local cocoa commodities possess superior quality and are capable of driving the community’s economy, as well as providing added value through downstreaming. “The Chocolate Festival 4.0 is a manifestation of the integration of the agriculture, tourism, and creative economy sectors, while proving that local commodities have superior quality capable of moving the community’s economy,” she said. According to Endah, farmers are the spearhead of downstreaming in the plantation sector to build regional economic independence. “We must prioritise agriculture and plantations, which can only yield maximum results if carried out on the basis of mutual cooperation between the masses and the government as a condition for generating and channelling the people’s work power and creativity to the fullest,” she said, quoting a speech by Bung Karno. In agreement, Regional Secretary of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti said the Chocolate Festival 4.0 is not merely a tourism agenda, but a joint effort to bring broader benefits to the community, especially in Gunungkidul. According to her, Gunungkidul has great potential through the Gunung Sewu UNESCO Global Geopark area which must be managed sustainably.