The fate of ornamental plant and flower growers in Batu was shining go. However, during PPKM, only middlemen can be relied on.
By
Defri Werdiono
·5 minutes read
Flower businesses in the floral center of Batu, East Java, are withering in the grip of the pandemic. Nevertheless, this has not driven floriculturists and florists to despair. Among those playing the waiting game, many are adapting to the situation with perseverance.
Occupying a kiosk in Sekar Mulyo Market, Sidomulyo village, Batu city, East Java, Yayuk, 53, was waiting for prospective buyers on Wednesday afternoon (4/8/2021). There were not as many buyers as there would be on weekends. Moreover, since early July, Batu has practically seen no tourists because of emergency public activity restrictions (PPKM) followed by PPKM level 4.
Consequently, the income of flower and ornamental plant traders has dropped. This cannot just be seen at Sekar Mulyo Market, located in the village, but also at kiosks along the roadside of Jl. Bukit Berbunga, which is more easily accessible by motorists. During PPKM, almost no cars with non-Batu license plate numbers are noticeable in the area.
“During PPKM, very few buyers are around, but last weekend, business was pretty brisk. Customers came from around Malang. Middlemen also came, though fewer,” Yayuk said.
Costing R p5,000 (35 US cents) to Rp 250,000 per pot, caladiums are the most sought after, besides begonias.
“Actually, all plants are selling, but at present, they are in demand,” added Yayuk.
The janda bolong species of the monstera family is now getting less attractive. A small pot the height of a span – from the thumb to index finger — previously worth hundreds of thousands of rupiah is now Rp 40,000.
The fate of ornamental plant and flower growers in Batu was shining go. several months aDuring the early months of the pandemic, flowers were much needed. Some tourist spots were even deserted as visitors shifted to the center of flowers and decorative plants.
However, during PPKM, only middlemen can be relied upon. They come with open-back trucks. From Batu, the flowers and ornamental plants are distributed to Surabaya, Kediri in East Java and Surakarta in Central Java.
Ridwan, 65, a farmer from Gunungsari village, conceded that business was now sluggish, not only in Batu but also in other regions. He has been delivering cut flowers to such regions as Jakarta and Bali. The flowers are chrysanthemums and roses.
Color demand
For Ridwan, the pandemic has been a trial of patience. Flower deliveries to other cities have plunged to 10 percent. Activities like parties and ceremonies are rarely held.
“The shops to which flowers were previously delivered, like those in Jakarta, are also mostly closed due to PPKM. Cut flowers currently in greater demand are generally white ones, which they say are needed for coffins and condolence boards. [Customers in] Jakarta, Semarang and Yogyakarta mostly ask for white flowers,” he said.
Ridwan owns 2.5 hectares of land dominated by roses now under rejuvenation. He hopes that at the end of the pandemic, his land will be fully productive along with its growing market.
The flower business is not simple. It requires capital worth hundreds of millions of rupiah.
“Rp100 million is not sufficient. While before the pandemic, banks were coming to offer loans, now farmers are chasing banks,” Ridwan revealed.
Sidomulyo and its vicinity have for decades been the center of flowers and ornamental plants in Batu. These commodities have existed since the 1970s. The presence of flowers is gradually replacing apples, which require complicated maintenance. In the 2000s, decorative plants and flowers were increasingly dominant in this zone.
Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) shows that in 2020, 24 species of flowers were produced in Batu, such as orchids with an output of 1.6 million stalks (in 2018 there were 2.3 million stalks), roses 55.4 million stalks (2018, 101.1 million), chrysanthemums 21.9 million stalks (2018, 38,7 million), anthuriums 416,717 stalks (2018, 478,774) and carnations 209,776 stalks (2018, 363,708).
Dedek Setia Santosi, 43, is a successful orchid cultivator in Dadaprejo village, Junrejo district, with domestic and foreign markets. But during the pandemic, only the local market is left. Exports are facing bureaucratic constraints.
The number of online buyers is rising, including online resellers. But the quantity bought is not as large as the thousands of stalks purchased by offline traders.
With the brand name DD Orchid Nursery, Dedek has to accurately observe the market in the current situation. Direct (offline) marketing is restricted by PPKM. Online marketing continues. His sales have even increased during PPKM, although his turnover is not as big as that from offline transactions.
Previously, several traders in Magelang, Bandung and Yogyakarta routinely bought thousands of stalks of orchids. During PPKM, purchases have been halted.
“On the other hand, the number of online buyers is rising, including online resellers. But the quantity bought is not as large as the thousands of stalks purchased by offline traders,” he said.
A lecturer at the Agriculture School of Brawijaya University in Malang, Setyono Yudo Tyasmoro, said during the pandemic, the marketing of nearly all agricultural products was conducted online. Those facing constraints can cooperate with other parties to carry our marketing activities as already done by a number of farmers in Batu.