Integrated agriculture terminal proposed for city

JAKARTA (JP): City-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya proposed on Friday the establishment of an integrated agriculture terminal to help boost distribution and sales of agricultural products in the capital, an official said.

President of PD Pasar Jaya, Syahril Tanjung, told a meeting with the City Council's Commission D on development affairs that the integrated terminal was very much needed by both the farmers and buyers.

"The terminal will help farmers market their products and at the same time provide potential buyers with an integrated place to make transactions," Syahril said.

"The terminal will also provide the farmers with necessary information on all kinds of fresh agricultural commodities which are needed by buyers.

"On the other hand, it will help stabilize the prices of the products," he added.

He said the establishment of an integrated terminal was in line with the city's general plan to develop Jakarta into a service-oriented city ahead of the implementation of regional autonomy, which is slated for May 2001.

"We see that fresh agricultural products have a potential for domestic markets and for exports. Therefore, we have to facilitate local farmers to penetrate these markets," he said.

Syahril said the construction of the terminal, which will occupy a 10-hectare plot in the Rawa Buaya area of Cengkareng district, West Jakarta, would cost about Rp 100 billion (US$11 million).

He said the terminal would market such produce as fresh fruits, spices, vegetables, fish as well as quality seeds for farmers.

"I have discussed the idea with Governor Sutiyoso. And the governor has given his green light to the proposal," he said, while citing that he had received a similar response from the Ministry of Agriculture.

"We have also conducted a feasibility study to further develop the plan," he said.

The official said he had gathered input from private market and hyper market operators, who repeatedly complained of having difficulties getting good quality fresh agricultural commodities for their businesses.

"Meanwhile, we also understand that small-scale farmers have problems fulfilling the buyers' demands on time," he said.

Syahril vowed that proper management and quality control would be maintained in the planned integrated terminal.

"Quality monitoring will be strictly observed in the proposed terminal so that buyers, especially those from the tourism industry, and exporters can rely on it," he said, adding that the terminal's management would issue certificates for farmers who could ensure and maintain their product quality.

PD Pasar Jaya is currently supervising 151 traditional markets throughout the city, accommodating some 80,000 traders, mostly from small scale businesses. (lup)