Governor Anies Baswedan appreciates collaboration between institutions in Jakarta Government such as Communication Informatics and Statistic Department (Diskominfotik), General Bureau, Health Department, and Bank DKI for initiating vertical cultivation in Balkot Farm. It shows how Jakarta Government optimizes limited land for cultivation using hydroponic system.
“Alhamdulillah, now we have Balkot Farm in City Hall. It is not large, but hopefully it can give big impacts. In reality, Jakarta only has small space for cultivation. But it doesn’t mean we eliminate plantation and agricultural activities in Jakarta. I want to appreciates parties who took the initiative to change this area into farm,” Anies conveyed as quoted from Jakarta PPID press conference, Friday (8/2/2019).
In this chance, he reminds Jakartans to optimize open spaces for vertical cultivation. It does not only makes the area look greener, but people can use it to plant vegetables for daily consumption or medicinal herbs for medical purpose.
Balkot Farm is planned to be a pilot project for technology-based urban farming. It is equipped with plant information board that contains of special QR Code. People can access information about plant information such as its name, health benefit, and others by scanning its QR code that will connect users to balkotfarm.jakarta.go.id website.
“QR Code technology is important in here to solve millennial’s problems that are mostly don’t understand about plant and cultivation. Thus urban farming such as Balkot Farm exists to introduce children about plants and helps them to get closer with nature. So, in the future, millennial can be more prepared to maintain sustainability of our environment,” he stated.
City Secretary, Saefullah inaugurates Balkot Farm at Jakarta City Hall, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Gambir, Central Jakarta. It is a manifestation of synergy and joint work between regional working unit (SKPD) and regional-owned enterprise (BUMD).
“They are Maritime, Agriculture and Food Security Agency, General Bureau, Health Agency and PT Bank DKI. This collaboration can be an example,” he expressed, during inauguration process, Friday (8/2).
According to him, locals can imitate similar method in order to make Jakarta greener and bring positive impact in terms of economic and air quality improvement.
He also gave awards to urban farming activists, namely Siti Aminah, Dani Aswanto, Nana Suganda, and Apit Kurniawan. They are entitled to a prize of Rp 2.5 million
The Jakarta Communication, Informatic and Statistic Agency (Diskominfotik) is committed to support the development of the Balkot Farm in the Jakarta City Hall Complex area.
The Balkot Farm that applies urban farming is successfully realized in collaboration between the Maritime, Agriculture and Food Security Sub-agency and the General Bureau.
Jakarta Communication, Informatic and Statistic Agency Head, Atika Nur Rahmania said that she is going to conduct consolidation in order to activate the Balkot Farm after it was inaugurated some time ago. It purposes to realize the development of urban farming in the capital city.
“Together we will develop it,” expressed Atika, at Balkot Farm, Monday (8/5/2019) late afternoon.
It is also completed with a saung as it is identical to the plantation or farming.
“It will also be used as an information medium in the future such as how to grow crops using the hydroponic method and so on,” she uttered.
Jakarta Maritime, Fishery and Food Security Agency Head, Darjamuni added that its innovation implemented is cheap hydroponics, which can be applied by the people.
“This is a miniature in Jakarta to be implemented in every village office integrated with monitoring balkot farm,” he asserted.
In its development, Jakarta Maritime, Fishery and Food Security Agency’s Agriculture Division Head, Taufik Yulianto admitted that he had held the technical mentoring session (bimtek) and motivation for karang taruna youth organization members and family welfare movement (PKK) cadres and sent Latifah to Japan in November at the urban farming world 4.0 summit.
Jakarta Satpol PP Head, Arifin visits Balkot Farm in the Jakarta City Hall Complex area. “This urban farming that carries the concept of digitalization must also be developed until urban village level. We will support it,” said Arifin when being met at Balkot Farm, Jakarta City Hall, Wednesday (8/7/2019).
His side has been coordinating with the General Bureau to maintain the security of Balkot Farm in order to care for plants properly.
“We will train our personnel about urban farming Balkot Farm so they can socialize to the community And we will use digital saung for meeting activities to be more inspiring,” he asserted. ( Source Image : BeritaJakarta.ID )