The Jakarta Grapevine Handler

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Yatno

Many people think sweet grape vines cannot grow in Jakarta. However, Yatno was able to "tame" the vines so that they grew well in the capital city, even on land that was formerly a landfill. Now the janitor supplies grapevine seedlings to many regions of Indonesia.

Since his birth, Yatno has been familiar with the harsh life of Jakarta. As a teenager, he earned money by picking up trash in his neighborhood. He has also been a construction worker, the manager of a dangdut group, a housing complex security officer and, since 2017, a public infrastructure and facilities (PPSU) worker for Malaka Sari subdistrict, Duren Sawit, East Jakarta. His job is to cut trees and clean sewers.

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In the midst of his busy life as a PPSU worker, Yatno started a vineyard called Kebun Imut Sinakal (sigap, niat dan berakal or agile, willing and intelligent). On Thursday afternoon (18/2/2021), he demonstrated his technique of grafting grape varieties adapted to Indonesian soil to imported vine stems. The process only takes two minutes.

After two months of proper care, the grafted plant turns into a seedling about 50 centimeters tall. These seedlings are sold for between Rp 125,000 and Rp. 1.5 million each, depending on the variety.

Yatno guarantees that the vine will bear sweet fruit as long as it is properly cared for. The plants can bear fruit twice a year and live for years.

The price is high because Yatno\'s initial investment is also high. He spends Rp 1.5 million to Rp 5 million per imported seedling, even though it only looks like a 30 cm long dry branch. His gross sales reach Rp 20 million to Rp 25 million per month, and yatno earns an average of Rp 5 million a month.

There are about 90 varieties of grape from some 20 countries growing in the garden, although Yatno doesn\'t really know which countries they are.

During the pandemic, the Sinakal Farm produced 300 to 500 seedlings every month, an increase from 2019, when the vineyard produced 200 seedlings per month. There are about 90 varieties of grape from some 20 countries growing in the garden, although Yatno doesn\'t really know which countries they are. What is important, he says, is that the seedlings are obtained from authorized sellers. The grape seedlings he develops are in demand by consumers in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.

Abandoned land

The sweet story of Yatno\'s grapevine started from his desire to improve the 600 square meter abandoned plot next to the Fadhillatul Huda Mosque on Jl. Malaka II, owned by the Jakarta administration. Over the years, the land was used as a dumping site for rubbish and debris. "The genie may not want to come here," he joked.

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In 2018, he submitted a proposal to the Malaka Sari subdistrict office to develop the abandoned land into a vegetable farm under the Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK) program. The crops would be sold or consumed by the residents themselves. The subdistrict office agreed.

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Yatno

Yatno and his fellow PPSU personnel cleared the trash and debris on the land for a month. Then, he planted vegetables for almost a year. During this time, he began to think about finding information on how to grow imported grapevines. He kept experimenting until he understood grafting techniques and how to accelerate the growth of grapevines.

The PKK management continues to manage the rest for the garden.

In 2019, he requested a subdistrict permit to build a vineyard nursery on half of the same land area. The PKK management continues to manage the rest for the garden. The idea was met with doubt. "Why should we grow grapevines? There are many grapes in Jakarta, but they taste just OK. They\'re not good to consume,” said Yatno, recalling their doubts.

Yatno asked the residents to give him five months to prove himself capable of taming imported grapevines. To earn the capital to start the vineyard, he sold motorbikes. "I offered a motorbike for Rp 1.5 million, people bargained for Rp 900,000. I sold it,” recalled Yatno, who is still working as a PPSU worker.

He planted 20 grapevine varieties at first. After five months, 11 varieties bore fruit. The head of the Food Security, Maritime Affairs and Agriculture Office (DKPKP), Darjamuni, came to his garden and congratulated him. Yatno, who was initially doubtful, is now a supplier of grapevine seedlings throughout the country.

Spreading the benefits

Apart from being sought after for his seedlings, Yatno is wanted because of his knowledge about grapevine cultivation. Unlike a restaurant owner who keeps his recipes secret, Yatno is happy to share his knowledge. He speaks at three or four events monthly. In addition, twice a week he shares techniques for producing seedlings in his garden.

He has been visited by students of Trisakti University in Jakarta, Bogor Agriculture University (IPB) in Bogor and even Udayana University students from Bali, a province that was already famous for its grapes.

A number of students have come to him to research grapevines. He has been visited by students of Trisakti University in Jakarta, Bogor Agriculture University (IPB) in Bogor and even Udayana University students from Bali, a province that was already famous for its grapes.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Yatno has increasingly shares his knowledge with people who want to get on their feet and recover. He said that one day a man who had lost his job came to him. He left 10 ornamental chili plants in Yatno\'s garden to sell them for money.

Yatno then asked the man if he wanted to be a retailer of Sinakal Farm vine seedlings. The man agreed and brought some seedlings. In just a matter of days, the seedlings were sold out, at a profit of Rp 10,000-Rp 20,000 per seedling. Later, Yatno offered to teach him to reproduce seedlings independently. Yatno also taught an online motorcycle taxi driver who was affected by the pandemic how to start a grapevine nursery.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Yatno

Yatno is not afraid that competition in grapevine seedlings will become tighter as he shares his techniques. "I never thought of that. The important thing is the principle of benefit, especially in a pandemic like this. Many people are confused about what to do,” he said.

He is proud if the knowledge he imparts allows more people to become cultivators of grapevines that bring sweet fruits.

Yatno

Born: Jakarta, Dec. 2, 1980

Wife: Iin (40)

Children: 2

Education: SD Negeri Malaka Sari 12 Petang (now SD Negeri Malaka Sari 02 Pagi)

Award: Winner of Jakarta’s 2019 Outstanding Farmers and Fishermen’s Creation Week

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswoko)