Passion for Revitalizing Calina Papaya Production

The appearance, flavor and size of the fruit significantly affect their price. Kiki trains farmers to maintain consistent quality.nas

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Kiki Wijarnako.

Kiki Wijarnako, 42, has been helping to distribute Calina papayas grown by smallholder farmers to modern markets, remaining undaunted even when plant disease once disrupted his business. Kiki has continued with his efforts to develop fruit cultivation as a national innovation, determined to restore the heydays of his papaya center.

Kiki served a Calina papaya harvested from his plantation. The fruit was bursting with a delicate, sweet flavor. The papaya was indeed refreshing in the midday heat on Thursday (8/7/2021) in Mekarsari village of Rancabungur district, Bogor regency, West Java.

The attractive orange pieces of papaya fruit were soft and moist. The fruit’s softness corresponded with the friendliness of Kiki, who spoke about his 3,000-square-meter plantation. Behind his house stood around 500 papaya trees, dense with leaves.

“The papayas supplied by partner farmers are no less than 10 tons per day,” said Kiki, pointing at the pile of papayas in his storehouse. Trucks moved back and forth in the parking area.

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“There are new shops that buy 3 tons per week, in two shipments,” said Kiki. He cheerfully spoke of the high demand for Calina papaya. Kiki experienced an oversupply once in a while, but it was no problem.

“[The fruit] can be distributed to traditional markets or beverage factories,” he said. Every day, papayas are unloaded and delivered through Kiki’s partnership with around 100 farmers.

KOMPAS/DWI BAYU RADIUS

Kiki Wijarnako.

Kiki’s vast network covers the regencies of Cianjur and Sukabumi in West Java, as well as Tanggamus, East Lampung and South Lampung regencies in Lampung. He helps to market the papaya grown by his partners. The Calina papaya is delivered to 40 buyers, from traditional market traders to shopping centers.

Kiki not only collects and stores the commodity, but also provides farmers with guidance on cultivation and harvesting so they can meet the quality standards.

“There’s also fertilizer aid, though not so much. Those still unfamiliar with papaya cultivation are given guidance. I train them until the post-harvest season to increase the sales value,” he said.

The appearance, flavor and size of the fruit significantly affect their price. Kiki trains farmers to maintain consistent quality. “If the papayas are good but production is halted, it’s to no avail,” he said.

Kiki’s consistent efforts to ensure ensuring the commodity’s quality can be seen at several shops. The papayas, for instance, are sent to the neat, clean and air-conditioned Fruit Garden in Bekasi, West Java.

Meanwhile, the outlet of the famous fruit shop chain in Kebun Jeruk, Jakarta, stack Calina papayas in front of the door.

Calina papayas have the highest demand compared to other papaya varieties. “It’s often short in supply,” said Area Supervisor Joko Purwanto of Fruit Garden-Harapan Indah. Meanwhile, the outlet of the famous fruit shop chain in Kebun Jeruk, Jakarta, stack Calina papayas in front of the door.

Former ‘escape’

The Calina papaya is just one of the indigenous fruits of Nusantara (Indonesian Archipelago) promoted on the racks at posh stores. Capable of competing with imported commodities, this national variety is called “IPB 9”, as it is an innovation of IPB University.

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This national pride has spurred Kiki’s enthusiasm to cultivate the Calina. He started cultivating papayas in 2003. “Actually, agriculture was initially an escape [for me]. I used to be an agent for snacks. I was also once a dealer of construction equipment,” he revealed.

The businesses failed, which frustrated Kiki. He then stayed at home and helped work on the family farm. “My parents and uncle are farmers. I was a bit depressed and just helping them. My father was also a trade collector, though only in the village,” he said.

KOMPAS/DWI BAYU RADIUS

Kiki Wijarnako

He also grew cassava, corn and other papaya varieties before he was attracted to the Calina for its appealing price. “At the time, Calina cost Rp 1,500 per kilogram and other papayas were Rp 500 per kg. I began my partnership with local farmers,” he added.

Kiki even helped the farmers by providing capital loans, seedlings, fertilizers and insect sprayers, aside from providing guidance.

He later enjoyed the heydays of Calina cultivation. Rancabungur then became known as a center of Calina papaya production. His plantation expanded from 275 trees to 10,000 trees in 2007. Every harvest season produced up to 150 papayas per tree, each fruit weighing 1-2 kg.

A setback

Stem rot suddenly spread through Kiki’s plantation in 2008, and his papaya trees had rotted within a month. “The land had to rest for over five years while the market was readily available,” he said.

He maintained consumer confidence by securing Calina papayas from other provinces, including Central Java and East Java. “I had no brand of my own then. Finally, I managed to enter stores starting from 2011,” he explained.

His papaya supply continues to flow despite his frequent apprehension. Stem rot could infect the trees of Kiki’s partner farmers at any time.

His papaya supply continues to flow despite his frequent apprehension. Stem rot could infect the trees of Kiki’s partner farmers at any time. “Farmers in Pelabuhanratu [Sukabumi regency] now only produce less than 50 percent of their normal production,” he said.

Farmers seem to be playing cat and mouse with stem rot. Their plantations are still extensive but they often have to move their crops to prevent their trees from becoming infected. “I do hope a [treatment] to eradicate stem rot can be found,” he said.

KOMPAS/DWI BAYU RADIUS

Kiki Wijarnako.

Kiki continues to cultivate Calina papayas, even though his trees could be destroyed by stem rot. His zeal for revitalizing the Rancabungur plantation has never waned. “When the solution is found, I’ll be intensifying Calina cultivation in Rancabungur again,” he remarked.

Cultivating Calina papayas carries a very high risk, but Kiki just sees an opportunity to seize.

Kiki Wijarnako

Born: Mekarsari village, Rancabungur district, Bogor regency, West Java, 25 Feb. 1979

Wife: Nela, 44

Children:

- Neoki Wijarnako,10

- Kenzo Wijarnako, 5

Education:

- SMEA Yayasan Kejuruan Teknologi Baru Bogor economics vocational high school, Bogor, West Java

- SMP 2 Rancabungur elementary school, , Bogor, West Java

- SD Sejahtera 5 junior high school, Bogor, West Java

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira)