In a collaborative effort between the UGM Faculty of Agriculture, PT Indomarco Prismatama (Indomaret), and Petani Millenial Sleman, a crucial meeting was held with the Sleman Regent, Kustini Sri Purnomo, on Monday (Jan. 22) at the Regent’s Office in Sleman.
The gathering was graced by Suparmono, the Head of the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries of Sleman Regency, along with Feki Oktavianus, Executive Director of Microeconomics at Indomaret; Purwanto Wahyudi, Project Executive of Marketing Microeconomics at Indomaret; representatives from Petani Millenial Sleman; and an UGM expert team.
The focus of the meeting revolved around an empowerment program tailored to boost the economy of watermelon farmers in Sleman Regency.
Dody Kastono, a lecturer from the Department of Crop Cultivation at the UGM Faculty of Agriculture and the coordinator of the expert team, elaborated on the coaching activities and cultivation dynamics of watermelons across the eastern, central, and western regions of Sleman.
Dr. Dyah Woro Untari from the Department of Agricultural Socioeconomics and an agricultural development expert shared encouraging feedback on the development of seedless watermelons among farmers.
“I believe the farmers are embracing this initiative. They’ve already supplied seedless watermelons to Indomaret on two occasions,” Dr. Untari mentioned.
Fondly referred to as Uun, Dr. Untari further highlighted that the quality of seedless watermelons has notably improved with the guidance and adoption of improved cultivation practices.
However, she acknowledged the challenge posed by unpredictable weather conditions, which often prove unfavorable for watermelon cultivation.
“This weather pattern also impacts the harvest quality, as there are instances when the conditions are not conducive for watermelon cultivation,” she explained.
The seedless watermelon development program, which is part of the economic empowerment of watermelon farmers in Sleman Regency, has garnered commendation and wholehearted support from the regent.
The Head of the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries, Suparmono, also expressed gratitude, noting a significant rise in farmers’ terms of trade (NTP) from 108 to 111.
“We’ve witnessed a notable increase in the NTP among farmers this year. This marks tangible progress in agricultural development within Sleman Regency,” remarked Suparmono.
Author: Hanita Athasari Zain
Editor: Agung Nugroho