Taiwan Technical Mission in Indonesia’s province of North Sumatra has helped local farmers produce shallots which is estimated to be 1.5 times more than before.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Taipei Economic and Trade (TETO) in Jakarta assigned Taiwan Technical Mission in Indonesia (TTM) to cooperate with the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment to carry out shallot and garlic production and marketing projects in North Sumatra province in early 2023.

The cooperation was built in order to help the Indonesian government improve food self -sufficiency, TETO said in a written statement received by Indonesia Window here on Thursday.

The first harvest from the project’s pilot area of five hectares was held on July 4, along with the planting of garlic, which is open to people for joining.

The event was attended by TETO’s Head John Chen; Deputy Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Nani Hendiarti; and administration head of Humbang Hasundutan district Dosmar Banjarnahor.

Ambassador John Chen noted that the Taiwan Technical Mission has been in Indonesia for 47 years, and has been working in various regions in the archipelagic country including the islands of Java, Bali and Sulawesi.

The agricultural project in North Sumatra province this year is the first time carried out by TTM.

Ambassador Chen expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, local administrations and local communities that have provided lands for an agricultural pilot basis.

Chen also introduced the delegation of Taiwan and Chinese entrepreneurs in the field of construction and agricultural products promotion, who attended the event.

They were four Chinese businesspeople engaged in the field of agricultural distributors who would explore cooperation opportunities and a Taiwan entrepreneur who would donate the construction of agricultural warehouses in the local area to storage machines, equipment, and agricultural products.

TETO would continue to encourage more Taiwanese and Chinese entrepreneurs to help local farmers produce agricultural products and create wider markets.

Meanwhile, in her speech at the event Nani Hendiarti expressed her gratitude to the Taiwan Technical Mission for its support in the North Sumatra project as a food production base.

She hoped that TTM would share their experiences in agricultural development with local farmers, as well as promoting agricultural products.

Dosmar Banjarnahor said he would continue to maintain good communication with the Taiwan Technical Mission team, and would provide all resources needed by the team to jointly develop local agriculture in his administrative areas.

In this half year, TTM has dedicated resources and technical guidance, which include regulating soil slope, increasing organic content in the soil, preparation of irrigation channels, and the construction of reservoirs.

In the agricultural project, a total of about two hectares of shallots had been planted in the pilot area in the first round, and produced excellent harvest, which was estimated to be 1.5 times more than that generated by local farmers.

In the garlic plantation ceremony, TTM also exhibited Taiwan varieties cabbage, with one cabbage weighing 5 kg, or 2.5 times heavier than that produced by local varieties.

In addition, the Taiwan agricultural mission also demonstrated how to use the leeks to make traditional Taiwanese pancakes, making the atmosphere of the event full of visuals and flavours.

The inaugural harvest of the shallots and planting garlic in Humbang Hasundutan district has succeeded in laying a solid foundation in the program of creating North Sumatra province as a food estate.

The activity also showed Taiwan's contribution in agricultural development projects in Indonesia through agricultural technical guidance and sharing experiences.

Reporting by Indonesia Window