The Fruits and Vegetables Industry in Indonesia: Production and Limited Access to Market

Abstract

Smallholder producers of fruits and vegetables in the Nanggung sub-district of West Java, Indonesia practice a multicropping system of agriculture on less than two acres of land. Agricultural practices in this area are still crude, with little or no inputs such as fertilization or modern irrigation. When water is available, the furrow irrigation system is used at best. Although banana is one of the income-generating crops, farmers grow it in combination with other fruits such as durian, mangosteen, rambutan, jackfruit, and with vegetables such as chili peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn, and green beans under non-intensive management. Although market-survey reports show that the demand for these fruits and vegetables is greater than the supply, the farmers not only have limited access to markets but produce inferior quality and limited quantity (Fonsah 2003). Due to these limitations, this study is aimed at developing new markets, creating new distribution systems and market channels, and seeks ways to improve those already existing.