Thursday, 01 October 2026
DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - The Deli Serdang Regency Government has begun developing shallot cultivation in Namorambe District as part of efforts to increase agricultural land productivity while expanding crop options for local farmers. The first planting was carried out on Friday, September 25, 2026, in Dusun I, Jati Kesuma Village.
Deli Serdang Regent dr. H. Asri Ludin Tambunan joined the Jati Kesuma Jaya Farmers' Association (Gapoktan) in the inaugural planting. During the first phase, farmers planted two tons of shallot seed on one hectare of land.The cultivation project targets a harvest of 10 to 13 tons of shallots. The Deli Serdang Regency Government hopes the initial cultivation will lay the foundation for developing a new agricultural commodity capable of creating additional economic value for the agricultural sector while encouraging farmers to make more productive use of their land.
The Deli Serdang Regent called on agricultural extension officers and the Agriculture Office to actively assist farmers from planting through harvest. He said providing guidance solely through theoretical explanations was not enough, stressing that assistance should be delivered directly in the fields.
On-site assistance is considered important so that extension officers and relevant agencies can identify problems arising during cultivation at an early stage. This approach is expected to enable farmers' difficulties to be addressed promptly with appropriate solutions."The target is to produce 10 to 13 tons by the end of December. I urge the extension officers and the Agriculture Office to be actively present in the field. It is not enough to provide advice through words or theory alone. They must go directly to the fields so they can see the problems that arise," he said.
Asri Ludin also highlighted the need for supporting infrastructure around agricultural land. He instructed the relevant agencies to first inspect the condition of drainage facilities and irrigation ditches to ensure smooth water flow around the cultivation areas.Meanwhile, a proposal to improve access roads to the agricultural plots will be reviewed by the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) in accordance with the respective authorities of the relevant agencies. The measure is part of the regency government's efforts to support agricultural activities in the shallot cultivation area.
According to Elina, the no-mulch cultivation method will be tested to determine its suitability for the soil and environmental conditions in Deli Serdang. The regency government hopes the method will help achieve the established production target.
"This time, we are not using mulch. We want to follow the practices used in Brebes. Hopefully, the results will meet expectations," she said.In addition to providing seed and fertilizer, the Deli Serdang Regency Government is also supplying farmers with agricultural machinery and equipment (Alsintan) funded through the regional budget (APBD).
The equipment includes two-wheel tractors and cultivators. The machinery will be stationed at the relevant Technical Implementation Unit (UPT), allowing farmers to use it for land preparation and crop maintenance.Farmers can borrow the machinery free of charge. The assistance is intended to reduce the workload involved in land preparation while improving efficiency in shallot cultivation.
In addition to assistance with production inputs, the farmers are also asking the government to provide opportunities for study and experience-sharing visits to regions that have successfully developed agricultural commodities, particularly shallots.
Such visits could provide farmers with practical knowledge of cultivation techniques, soil management, crop maintenance and post-harvest processing. The knowledge gained from other regions could then be adapted to agricultural conditions in Deli Serdang and applied locally."Alhamdulillah, the assistance has already arrived. We hope to continue receiving knowledge and guidance so that the harvest meets expectations," one of the farmers said.
The development of shallot cultivation in Namorambe District marks an initial step by the Deli Serdang Regency Government to introduce and develop the crop within the local agricultural sector. Through support for production inputs, assistance from agricultural extension officers and the provision of agricultural machinery, the government hopes farmers will be able to achieve the established production targets.The target of harvesting 10 to 13 tons from one hectare by the end of December will also serve as an initial benchmark for assessing the development potential of shallot cultivation in Jati Kesuma Village. The results of the cultivation can subsequently provide a basis for the government and farmers to determine further development measures for the next planting season. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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