Fruitful Enterprises
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2010 fruits contributed 53 percent to the GDP of horticultural products, valued at about Rp 46 trillion. In a number of provinces, the commercial cultivation of fruits have brought some prosperity to the farmers. Besides being directly consumed, fruits can be processed to become snacks and even medication. Even so, it is still not getting enough attention and support from the government. Tempo English reports from the provinces of Jambi and Papua, on the recent commemoration of National Fruit Day on July 1.
July 16, 2013
Village of A Million Pineapples
Refugees from Sulawesi turned swamps and peatland in Tangkit Baru village, Jambi, into wildly successful pineapple plantations. Around 75 small-scale enterprises now process the fruit into a variety of products.
It's The same scene in front of every house: hundreds of pineapples, in piles higher than a meter. This is the farmers' harvest awaiting purchase by brokers. Not far from the stacks, small kiosks offer pineapp
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