The Government was constantly encouraging farmers to produce certified
products as it was one of the uplifter of competitiveness of domestic food
products. Moreover in world trading, many countries were applying non-triff
barrier to wall out import by using certification as instrument.
To ensure safety of fresh food products the Government had formed the
Food Safety Competence Authority [OKKP]. At the provincial level there was
Regional OKKP called OKKPD. The task of this institution was to supervise and
guarantee quality of fresh food in circulation or even to certify fresh food
which had met quality requirements.
The Government issued certificate for fresh food products based on three
criteria: Firstly, Prima Certificate 3 for fresh food products which was
pesticide free. Secondly, Prima 2 for fresh food which was pesticide free and
high quality. Thirdly, Prima 1 given to fresh food products which were
pesticide free, of high quality and environmentally friendly.
Unfortunately, farmers who had obtained certificates were not benefiting
any added value from their hardwork. And example was JUwari, Head of Salak Ngelumut
Ngadi Cukup Farmers group of Magelang, Central Java confessed to BusinessNews
during workshop and Exposure pf Certified Food Products in Yogyakarta that
Salak Palm farmers were not having any added value from fresh food
certificatiob given by the Government. “ The price of Salak palm labeled
Certified for quality A and B was only Rp7,500/kg, almost the same as those
which were uncertified”.
And yet farmers were trying hard to produce high quality products which
was evident with the possession of Prima 3 Certificate from the Regional Food
Security Competition [OKPP] of Central Java. To obtain the certificate farmer
had applied the Procedure Operational Standard [SOP] stipulated by the
Government; starting from seeding, soil processing and plantation care.
We expect the government would give protection. It would not happen that
we are asked to produce good quality fresh food, but we are being mistreated.
This would discourage farmers, because sorted and unsorted fruits are priced
the same price” Juwari said.
Purnama Jaya, producer of Naga Fruits in Yogyakarta stated that
certification of fresh fruit products did not stimulate farmers to increase
production. This was because there was no surcharge on certified food products.
Therefore farmers were expecting the Government to change policy of
agricultural subsidy. If presently subsidy input was in the form of seeds and
fertilizers, supposedly the Government gave subsidy output of market guarantee.
“Farmers problem was not seed or fertilizers, but market, most of them
questioned the market” Juwari remarked.
The Vice Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Paduka Alam IX also stated that
many of Indonesian agro-products were certified and guaranteed of their quality
but not being appreciated by consumers, as indicated by relatively same price
between certified and uncertified products a condition which disheartened
farmers.
Many certified products were not properly priced, since the market was
not open minded and appreciative to safe and good products. And yet the fact
was that consumers’ awareness to obtain safe and high-quality products was
increasing. For that matter facilitation and information of all parties were
needed including the Government, the market and the consumers so Indonesian
products which were safe and of high quality would be the master it its own
territory.
Educating Consumers
Meanwhile the director of Quality and Standardization, Directorate
General of Processing and Marketing, Ministry of Agriculture, Gardjita Budi
admitted that the process of obtaining certificate means additional production
cost to farmers. However, the benefit of certification should be expected in
the long run as guarantee of food quality produced by farmers.
Moreover overseas buyers might evaluate or track the products’ origin.
If the origin of product was clear they would be willing to pay a high price
for it. “ At home, we expect the certification would serve as part of
consumer’s education”.
Therefore the government was expecting that the control system for fresh
food would run well in all of Indonesia. Accordingly, the Government would
improve the existing regulation, including the mechanism of reward and
punishment so the entire process would serve to motivate all parties to produce
safe fresh food starting from the point of production, packing house, retailers
to exporters.
Head of the Board of Food Resilience and illumination Yogyakarta, Asikin
Chalifh said that the institutional role of Regional OKKP was to guarantee
quality of fresh food product [ fruits and vegetables ] through registration
and certification.
Till end of last year, there were at least 32 farmers group obtaining
Prima 3 certification including Salak Pondoh red chili, Ambon Banana, Raja
banana, red onions, srikaya, melon, and malam mango; in caseof labeling there
were 13 businessplayers producing Mocaf flour, garut, cassava and rice.
The problem faced was low awareness of certification process. The reason
was because there was no assurance of sales price increase of certified
products; moreover it was still hard for the certified products to access the
modern market. (SS)
Business News - March 08,2013
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