Minister Yandri Promotes Orange Downstreaming in Malang Regency
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Villages and Regional Development (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, is encouraging the implementation of downstreaming—the processing of oranges from harvests into products with higher selling value—in Malang Regency, East Java.
“It is a pity that orange prices actually drop during the peak harvest season. Therefore, collaboration is needed to resolve this issue,” said Minister Yandri while receiving an audience with the Vice Regent of Malang, Lathifah Shohib, at the Ministry of Villages and Regional Development Office in Jakarta on Tuesday.
During the audience, Vice Regent Lathifah presented the potential of Malang Regency, specifically highlighting the oranges in Kucur Village, Dau District, a location previously visited by Minister Yandri.
“In addition to oranges, we also have potential in maize and catfish,” said Vice Regent Lathifah.
In line with this, Vice Regent Lathifah expressed hope that her office could build a collaboration with the Ministry of Villages and Regional Development to boost these potentials. She added that villages in Malang Regency also possess potential for premium tuna and tobacco.
Minister Yandri emphasised the importance of implementing downstreaming for the oranges in Kucur Village, noting that the fruit possesses an excellent flavour.
By implementing downstreaming, Minister Yandri continued, the oranges could be utilised to their maximum potential. Furthermore, prices could be stabilised. He also stated that farmers would no longer need to sell their oranges to middlemen, but could sell directly to industrial parties.
The former Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI also suggested that villages in the Dau District should unite to form a Joint Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDesma), which could eventually serve as the entity developing the region’s orange potential.
Nevertheless, Minister Yandri reminded that orange quality must be constantly maintained to ensure it meets market standards, including for export to overseas markets.
“The availability of the orange supply must also be considered, as it must be able to meet future market demands,” Minister Yandri cautioned.