Sustaining porang (Amorphophallus muelleri Blume) production for improving farmers' income

Abstract

One of the main programs of Ministry of Agriculture is GRATIEKS (Three-Fold Export Movement). It aims to boost agricultural export resulting in production enhancement as well as farmers' income improvement. Porang is among the promising commodities to enhance export. This paper aims to analyze role of porang farm business as an export commodity through sustainable agriculture, i.e. (i) to analyze land management for porang farm business, (ii) to study the cost and income of porang farm business, and (iii) to evaluate porang export development measures. This research was conducted in Madiun Regency, East Java, using a survey method. Porang farm business is conducted on production forest and protection forest areas. It should be implemented carefully in accordance with sustainable land management. Porang farm business is relatively cost-effective as it applies minimal tillage, low production inputs, and profitable farm-gate price. Porang flour export demand is still promising. Porang production enhancement is possible through sustainable land management.