Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Bank Indonesia (BI) Purwokerto, and the Banjarnegara Regency Government celebrated the official inauguration of the Coffee Learning Center in Babadan Village, Banjarnegara Regency, Central Java Province, on Tuesday (Jan. 16).
The ceremony witnessed the presence of the UGM Faculty of Agriculture team, such as Professor Taryono, Suci Handayani, and Dr. Andrianto Ansari, alongside representatives from BI Purwokerto and the Banjarnegara Regency Government.
Professor Taryono, in a statement to reporters on Monday (Jan. 22), highlighted that the coffee learning center is proof of UGM’s commitment to driving agricultural advancements, specifically in coffee farming, to uplift community welfare.
“This collaborative initiative between UGM, BI Purwokerto, and the Banjarnegara Regency Government, in conjunction with the farmer groups of Babadan Village–Gapoktan Sida Makmur in the Cooperative Sikopel Mitreka Satata, underscores our commitment,” he said.
He further explained that the intensive assistance for coffee cultivation in Babadan Village commenced in 2008, initiated by a land conservation program sponsored by Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) and guided by UGM. Activities encompassed comprehensive studies, seeding, seedling nurturing, and planting.
“The suitability study conducted in 2010 revealed the Pagentan upper area, especially Babadan Village, Margosari, and Tegal Jeruk, with an altitude >1000 m above sea level, as highly conducive for arabica coffee development,” he elucidated.
Arabica coffee seeds became available in 2011, but some farmers neglected proper care due to the extended cultivation period of about three years. Consequently, poorly maintained and dismantled plants posed challenges when coffee harvesting commenced.
“The challenges arose because the land conservation program only advanced to the stage of producing coffee fruit, and the market followed what was readily available, leading to arabica coffee being undervalued compared to robusta coffee due to its high water content,” he shared.
The Sida Makmur farmer group members attended a seminar event, connecting with coffee enthusiasts from Jakarta, Surabaya, and Gayo. This interaction prompted farmers to recognize the unique taste and higher value of arabica coffee compared to robusta coffee.
“Post this event, farmers formed a business entity to manage their coffee effectively,” he added.
In 2018, the development of arabica coffee cultivation received support from Bank Indonesia (BI) Purwokerto through the Local Economy Development (LED) program.
The objective was to conserve land and water while enhancing farmer welfare. This led to the extension of arabica coffee development into the northern part of Banjarnegara, penetrating the Dieng mountainous region.
Farmer groups began receiving seed assistance, coffee processing infrastructure, and comprehensive training in production and marketing.
Professor Taryono noted that the growth of Banjarnegara’s arabica coffee has captured the community’s interest, particularly the younger generation, driving participation in the upstream and downstream sectors of the Banjarnegara arabica coffee industry.
“Collaborating with UGM, there are plans to establish a ‘Coffee School’ involving 11 coffee producer cooperatives, aiming to boost coffee yields and quality,” he revealed.
“In 2023, BI allocated funds for constructing the Banjarnegara Coffee School facilities, including a coffee learning center, general equipment, and specialized equipment for coffee appreciation (cupping) and coffee laboratories.”
Turno, Chairman of Sikopel Mitreka Satata in Babadan Village, expressed optimism regarding the coffee learning center’s establishment, foreseeing improved welfare for the Babadan Village community and the broader Banjarnegara Regency.
Alif Zein, a coffee enthusiast in Babadan Village, echoed similar sentiments, envisioning the coffee learning center as a pivotal learning hub for farmers and the Banjarnegara community.
“Ultimately, this hub will enhance human resource skills and natural resource management, contributing to the overall improvement of the Banjarnegara Regency,” he affirmed.
Author: Gusti Grehenson