Pustaka Ilmiah Universitas Padjadjaran

Abstrak

Vegetable value chains in Eastern Indonesia–a focus on chilli (SADI-ACIAR research report)

Indonesia, the fourth largest market in the world with a population of 220 million in 2005, is forecast to reach almost 250 million people by 2015, making it a large food market. Consumption of fresh food is increasing and urban based consumers are becoming more healthand convenience conscious. This has opened up opportunities for the modern retail sector to expand further into fresh foods, such as the offer of hydroponic and organic vegetables. Indonesia has over 17,000 islands and this provides a major challenge to distribute fresh products nationally. Most of Indonesia’s locally produced fresh vegetables (cabbage, potato and chilli) are distributed throughout Indonesia in non refrigerated transport. However, there is increased use of airfreight for select high value fresh vegetables for inter-island trading where there is shortage of local supplies. The traditional wet markets still dominate fresh food trade however there is an increasing trend of food purchases at modern retail outlets. Most supermarkets and hypermarkets in Indonesia have expanded their share of the retail market with the opening of new stores throughout major cities in Indonesia and with an increased emphasis on fresh food and higher value lines, such as hydroponic and organic vegetables. Both Matahari Hypermart and Hero supermarkets are now offering a full range of ingredient vegetables and other food items essential for Indonesian cooking. In the vegetable section, there is now a full range of chilli (five varieties), ginger, onions, garlic, pepper etc.