Minister of Economic Coordinator Darmin Nasution have a visitation to Great Giant Foods (GGF), Lampung Tengah, Lampung, Friday (26/7/19). In his visitation, Mnister Nasution have a conversation with our local growers who have partnership with GGF’s local sourcing for Lady finger banana from Tanggamus Regency.

The farmers are partnering with GGF, the largest producer and exporter of pineapple and banana in Indonesia. From direct dialogue with farmers, it was revealed that the partnership pattern of farmers and companies brought significant changes to the economic life of the farmers.

The event took place at the GGF Training Center building. The Menko delegation was welcomed by Commissioner GGF Setiawan Achmad, Managing Director of GGF Wayan Ardana, Managing Director of PT GGL Dayu Ariasintawati, Government Relations and External Affair Director Welly Soegiono and several senior managers.

“We came here to listen to what good agriculture cultivation practices are so that other regions can imitate the success of the gentlemen,” said Coordinating Minister Darmin to start the conversation.

Responding to complaints about fertilizer problems from farmers, Coordinating Minister Darmin also explained that the government was also concerned about fertilizer issues. “We are looking for ways to overcome the fertilizer problem so that it is not too expensive for farmers. While the development of organic fertilizer must also be improved, especially from the utilization of waste, “he said.

Darmin also underlined that Tanggamus farmers do not need to worry if other regions seek similar things. The reason is, Indonesia still needs to boost exports to cover the trade balance deficit.

“No need to worry about competing with other regions because the market is still very large. We must increase exports. We don’t want a prolonged deficit, “Darmin said convincing Tanggamus farmers.

“The process of learning from traditional farmers to become modern farmers takes time and is not easy. However, from year to year we are always accompanied and nurtured by the company, ”said the Chairperson of the Cooperative of Tani HIjau Makmur Tanggamus M. Nur Soleh.

The company developed the e-Grower application system, which serves to facilitate communication between companies with cooperatives, farmer groups, and farmers who are members of the collaboration through field supervisors.

Coordinating Minister Darmin Nasution appreciated the partnership pattern built by GGF and farmers. In the future, the government wants to boost infrastructure development and village logistics. “Farmers will indeed be more prosperous if there are those who teach good cultivation and there are those who buy at clear prices. We also want good logistics from the village and the collecting market, “Darmin explained.

The ladyfinger farmer group in Tanggamus also became the first farmer group in Indonesia to receive the benefits of a bonded area subcontracting facility provided by the Ministry of Finance’s Directorate General of Customs and Excise, he continued.

At first, Tanggamus was a coffee plantation area. However, farmers in this district have switched to planting bananas because they are able to provide better yields and prices.

“It used to be a coffee base, but farmers need money. If the coffee has to wait 12 months, it can get around 20 million to 1 ha per year. While we get income per week from bananas. “On average, 3/4 ha the bus produces a minimum of 1.4 million per week,” said Soleh.

Soleh explained, at the beginning farmers were asked to plant banana mas, with assistance from GGF, starting from the supply of seeds and fertilizers, planting methods, pest and disease control, harvesting, to packaging with the help of technology.

“We were also trained to be able to export from our own homes. The quality of our plants has been export quality, has been to Singapore, China, and others. Thankfully our economic life is improving and can deliver children to scholars, “said Budi Santoso, one of the leaders of the Arjuna farmer group, in charge of a 26 hectare banana garden.

They were also taught to sort the harvest according to the standards of each one from grade A to D. In fact, there was also competition to win the best crop winners so they could encourage farmers.

Manager In Charge Sales and Marketing Great Giant Foods (GGF) Josef Lay said, China prefers bananas from Lampung compared to bananas from Ecuador which have been filling the country’s market.

According to him, the partnership between farmers and companies is mutually beneficial to both parties. This collaboration provides certainty to the needs of the factory and increases the income and welfare of farmers.

“We indeed only produce standard export bananas for the international market. “The banana produced by Tanggamus farmers has been exported to Singapore and China, especially Shanghai,” concluded Josef Lay.

In addition to discussing with banana farmers, during this working visit to Lampung, the Coordinating Minister for Economy also visited the canned pineapple factory, Jambu Packing House, and the GGF Cattle fattening business.

Through Healthy Lifestyle Program, Great Giant Foods (GGF), Terbanggi Besar, with the Government of Central Lampung Regency trying to prevent stunting in Central Lampung.

Sebagai tanda segera dilaksankannya program ini, dilakukan grand opening dan penandatanganan piagam komitmen bersama oleh semua pihak dari Kementrian Kesehatan RI, Dinas Kesehatan Propinsi Lampung, Pemerintah Daerah Lampung Tengah, dan Great Giant Foods, Rabu (17/7/19)

The grand opening was marked by the beating of the gong by the Assistant II of the Lamteng District Government for Economic and Development Yunizar witnessed by the Head of Research and Development of Health Service Resources, Ministry of Health Irmansyah, Head of Lampung Provincial Health Office Reihana, and GGF Senior Manager Sustainability Arief Fatullah.

In his speech, Arief Fatulah explained why the issue of stunting was the concern of the GGF? According to him, in fact stunting cases occur a lot in the working area of GGF. While we produce products that are a source of nutrition, such as milk, fruit and vegetables.

“Through GGF products, we encourage Indonesian people to live healthier, healthier and better. And with the Great Indonesia program, GGF will provide socialization and assistance in stunting prevention to residents in 5 villages with the highest stunting cases, “said Arief Fatullah.

GGF will intensely campaign for stunting prevention in the form of improving diet for toddlers, educating young women, married women, pregnant and lactating mothers. This campaign involves GGF subsidiaries, namely Great Giant Pineapple (GGP), Sewu Segar Nusantara (SSN), and Great Giant Livestock (GGL).

“This will be an annual program and will be sustainable. Currently GGF is focused in Central Lampung, in the future this program will be increased at the provincial level, up to the national level, “Arief said.

All parties must also be involved, concerned about this case. We will also encourage the involvement of all parties so that all communities can behave in a healthy life, he continued.

Assistant II of Lampung Central District Government in Economy and Development Sector Yunizar representing Central Lampung Regent Loekman Djoyosoemarto stated that the regional government was grateful for GGF’s concern for taking part in preventing stunting early.

“We express our gratitude for the concern of GGF who took part and became a pioneer of companies in Central Lampung who care about the problem of stunting. This is according to the target of the Central Lampung Regency Government, 2023 must be free of stunting, “he said.

From the results of the data collection, said Yunizar, from 279 toddlers who experienced malnutrition 4.9 percent. “As many as 276 thousand of our toddlers census, under weight or malnutrition 4.9 percent. Then stunting treatment in central Lampung was 6.68% higher than the national prevention program. So we spread the stunting focus from 10 to 30 villages, “he said.

The Head of Lampung Provincial Health Office Reihana appreciated the GGF’s social responsibility program, he hoped the involvement of the private sector could reduce the stunting rate by 19% in accordance with the Lampung Provincial Medium-Term Development Plan.

“I hope that all companies can be moved, nutrition problems cannot be done by the Health Office alone. “It must be sustained across sectors, so that health problems are finished,” he said.

In 2030 Lampung will enjoy a demographic bonus where the majority of the population is productive. Reihana hopes that the generation to be welcomed by Lampung is a healthy generation.

“Do not let the next generation be a generation that is sickly. We must work hard so that it doesn’t happen. Thanks to GGF, I hope this step will be followed by other companies in Lampung, “he said.

The number of stunting cases in Central Lampung in 2018 reached 27% of 3,680 children spread across 10 villages, which is Bandar Putih Tua, Gedung Ratu, Riau Periangan, Tanjung Rejo, Buyut Udik, Cabang, Gunung Batin Udik, Mataram Ilir, Mataram Udik, dan Tulung Kakam.

According to the Head of Research Center and Developer of Health Service Resources, Ministry of Health, Irmansyah, this condition is quite sad, considering Central Lampung is known as a national food barn.

“It turns out that even though it is in a food barn, if the environment is not healthy and clean, the risk is still there,” said Irwansyah.

Irwansyah asserted, stunting cannot be cured, the only effort can be done through prevention. However, prevention efforts by the government so far have only been able to alleviate 30% of existing health problems. For this reason, synergy with the private sector is needed.

“There is not much private involvement in the issue of stunting, we encourage it, because how the government budget will always be lacking. The involvement of the private sector, we believe, will provide a large contribution to the stunting rate, “he said.

Great Giant Foods -

Month: July 2019

GGF’s Local sourcing banana farmer, have a dialog with Minister of Economic Coordinator

GGF’s Stunting Preventive Program