By: Teguh Suprijanto
In the recent past, bio-diesel derived from plant species has been major renewable source of energy. Among various plant Jatropha curcas has been chosen as most potential species for varying situations. Jatropha curcas is considered most potential not only to the growers but also to the processors and end users. To the rural society, the crop can create regular employment opportunities as it provides never ending marketing potential.
Due to potential demand and better marketing opportunities, cultivation of Jatropha appear viable. Jatropha may not replace other important food crops since it is meant for flood free wastelands and unutilized fallow lands/less productive lands and in turn will not have major impact on cropping pattern.
Among the many species, which yield oil as source of energy in the form of biodiesel, Jatropha curcas L. has been identified as most suitable seed bearing plant due to its various favorable attributes like hardy nature, short gestation period, adaptability in a wide range agro-climatic conditions, high oil recovery and quality of oil etc. It can be planted on degraded land through Joint Forest Management, farmer’s field boundaries, road sides, both sides railway track, fallow lands and as agroforestry crops. It grows up to a high of 5 m and can be maintained to desired height and shape by trimming and pruning.
In Indonesia Jatropha curcas is found in almost all the district and is generally grown, as a live fence for protection of agricultural fields from damage by livestock as cattle or goat does not eat it. Jatropha is not an alternative to agriculture or plantation but it is an addition to it.
Jatropha curcas is a tropical shrub native to Mexico and Central America, but it is widely distributed in wild and semi cultivated stands in Latin America, Africa, India, and South East Asia, including Indonesia.
Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with diesel oil to create a biodiesel blend. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, non toxic and essentially free of sulfur and aromatic. Biodiesel is made through a chemical process culled transesterification where by the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products, methyl esters and glycerin / glycerol.
The Jatropha curcas plant holds promise as an environmentally and socially sustainable source of oil for the production of the green fuel, biodiesel. It is shrub that does not require large amounts of water yet produces nuts with high oil content. Jatropha can be grown on marginal land, its produce is inedible, and so can be grown without competing with food crops.
Many alternative Biodiesel fuels have been shown to have better exhaust emissions than traditional diesel fuel. Jatropha biodiesel holds promise as fuel alternatives for diesel engine, Depletion of the Primary Fuels, biodiesel are agriculture oriented. Jatropha biodiesel are non toxic, bio degradable and renewable fuel. The severe emission regulations in the world have placed design limitations on heavy duty diesel engines. The trend towards cleaner burning fuel is growing worldwide and it is possible through Jatropha bio diesel.
The Jatropha curcas starts yielding from the second year onwards and continues for 50 years. The meal after extraction an excellent organic manure (38 % Protein, N : P : K ration 2.7 : 1.2 : 1). Jatropha quickly establishes itself and will produce seeds round the year if irrigated. Other than extracting biodiesel from Jatropha curcas plant, the leaf and the bark are used for various other industrial and pharmaceutical uses. Approximately 31 to 37 % of oil extracted from the Jatropha curcas seed. It can be used for any diesel engine without modification.
Biofuels are gaining importance in the light of increasing energy demand, especially fossil fuels which are non renewable. Biodiesel are renewable, biodegradable, non-hazardous and safer for air, water and soil and its use reduces the emission of greenhouse gases.
Indonesia has set itself a target to increase the use of biodiesels to 3 per cent of the country’s total fuel consumption by 2010, displacing 10 per cent of fossil fuel import.
The main products of Jatropha plant are: Crude Jatropha Oil (CJO), Pure Plant Oil (PPO) or Straight Jatropha Oil (SJCO), and Biodiesel. The extraction process of Jatropha becomes oil is done by mechanical way, using pressing machine. There are two kinds of pressing equipment, one is using hydraulic press machine and the other one using screw press machine. Each of the equipment has each weakness and advantage, its depend on the level of oil production. The sorted dried seed of Jatropha can be pressed by pressing machine, the result are CJO and waste. To purified the CJO is done by filtering it and it will be gained PPO and sludge. Jatropha Crude Oil can be used as substitution of kerosene, it can be directly use in modified stove or it is mixed with kerosene. To get the biodiesel fuel, PPO as a filtering result should be process through transesterification and esterification. The transesterification is a process for decreasing free acid contains. If the contains of free acid too high, it needs to be process into esterification first, then it will be continued into transesterification process.
THE PROSPECT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF JATROPHA & THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BIODIESEL INDUSTRY IN EAST JAVA PROVINCE
To support the establishment of biodiesel in East Java, whether it is feasible or not, it has been done survey and field study for three months, covered 12 districts, they are: Banyuwangi, Jember, Bondowoso, Lumajang, Pasuruan, Malang, Kediri, Mojokerto, Blitar, Tulungagung, Pacitan and Tuban. The method of survey which is used for that purpose was collecting both secondary and primary data. The collecting primary data was done by distributing questionnaire and direct interview to farmers, members of farmers group, the chairman of farmers group, the extension workers, specialist extension workers, the head of the local / district Department of Agriculture, and direct observation to the field area. The secondary data were collected consist of rain fall, the composition of inhabitant (monographic), various kinds of jobs, area map, etc. Those data were collected from the office of Sub District, the related office, the office of Planning and Development Board, and the Central Statistic Bureau. The data was compiled , tabulated, and it was analyzed, as well as it was directed to the specific need, based on criteria parameter, such as rain fall, the altitude, water resource, the daily wage earner, cultivated land layer, the availability of work forces, and economic value of competitor commodities compared to Jatropha.
The 12 Districts were chosen as the target of survey and observation it was based on the consideration of existing plants in the area and the readiness of its area development.
There are three important points as the result of the survey, first is about the way of the cultivation system of Jatropha, second is about the crucial seedling, and third is about the process of refinery of biodiesel. So far, the farmer plants the jatropha mostly on the marginal soil and it is categories as a secondary crop, they planted as intercropping, as live fence on their farm without any care at all, and they only took the seeds or steam cutting from local jatropha surrounding their farm as the material for planting. That’s why the production of jatropha so small, on the average only 1.2 – 2 ton / hectare. If there is a farmer who tried planting jatropha in monoculture system, he didn’t use a good seeds and it still didn’t cultivated properly. The process to produce biodiesel from Jatropha commonly through de gumming first, it takes time process and it is costly. Balittri (The Research Institute for Spices and Industrial Plants, belong to the Indonesian Government) in Sukabumi has been producing superior seed of Jatropha from plant selection method and they produced biodiesel from Jatropha using reactor without de gumming process. So it cuts the cost and time significantly for producing the biodiesel. The superior plant of Jatropha (IP3P) from Balittri can produce 12 ton / hectare.
It was found during the survey, in Mojokerto area, the farmer grows Jatropha in the raised path, with 1.5 x 1.5 m spacing , the performance of the plant looks so good, it was seen many fruits, mature fruit, young fruit and flowers in the same plant. After analyzed it, we conclude that the Jatropha plant that’s grows by the farmer has been gotten the full sunlight and even though it didn’t care much, the plant got nutrition supply from the root which was taken when the farmer fertilizing the rice field. The root of the Jatropha it self didn’t inundated by the water because the raised path was constructed bigger and higher by the farmer. The growth of main crop (the rice / paddy field) didn’t get any bother at all because the farmer always pruning and trimming of the Jatropha in order to get the branches which can produce more fruits. Still in Mojokerto, the existing plant was found as the biggest area compared to other 11 districts has been surveyed, and in the area also found that the group of farmers plants Jatropha with monoculture system as wide as 150 hectares.
Based on the result of the survey, Mojokerto is considered as the place of biodiesel factory/industry. The reason is that the existing plant of Jatropha is the biggest one, and the promising development of Jatropha in the area, as it is also supported by the social and the positive attitude of the most farmers in the area. Another reason is just because Mojokerto is close distance to Surabaya which is the entry point gate of export of the biodiesel , since the orientation of biodiesel industry for mostly export allocation and the rest of the production will be marketed domestically, and Surabaya is the right place for marketing biodiesel and other derivative products of Jatropha.
The planting of Jatropha will cooperate with the local farmer through nucleus and plasma system, using the superior seed from research station of Jatropha such as Balittri and will utilize raise path with certain spacing of planting, then it will be converted into hectare. The factory of biodiesel will be built with the factory growth concept, it is suited with the supply of nut of Jatropha as the main material for processing to produce biodiesel. The factory will be designed and directed with the capacity of 150 ton nut per day to be processed. To materialize the project, it needs approximately USD 10 million for both investment and operational cost. The comprehensive proposal/business plan has already made. Any party are interested in this project, please contact us via e-mail address: tgh_55@yahoo.com.
* From various sources, survey & research
Indonesia is one of the largest sugarcane consumer in the world, consuming around 3,5 million tons of sugarcane per year, while the capacity of the domestic sugarcane industries/producers nationally only producing 2.31 million tons (in 2007) and most of them has been produced by the state companies. There for, around 1,5 million tons sugarcane should be imported from another country to fulfill the demand of the local market in Indonesia. The sugarcane mills owned by the state/government commonly produced white crystallized sugar using chemical stuffs, such as sulfur, calcium, and carbon dioxide in the process. Whereas the crystallized white sugar is not really effective for food an beverage industries, they commonly use liquid sugar or syrup for their industries. In fact , in Indonesia the food and beverage industries usually buy crystallized white sugar, then they boil it until become liquid or syrup for their industries. According The Association of Food and Beverage Companies in Indonesia there are more than 914,000,-members are small industries, and about 5,000 are bigger companies. Some of the bigger companies have license to import sugar for their own needs but not for trading. While the small industries absorbed the local crystallized white sugar as much as 900,000 tons yearly.
In line with the food security movement and demanding of healthcare of the people, as well as for fulfilling the demand of the food and beverage industries, producing liquid sugar which is chemical free is the right choice of the business. To produce clear, hygienic, and healthy liquid sugar and cane juice it is now possible by using membrane technology (Ultra Filtration). The sugarcane mill which will be built is in a small capacity, that is 100 TCD (ton cane par day, approximately equal to 50 tons liquid sugar/day) and cane juice for 10,000 liters/day. The reason why we choose a small capacity of cane sugar mill is basically for efficiency of the land and operational of the mill itself. It is enough with 250 hectares cane farm for supply the mill and we can cooperate with cane farmers. So the coverage area is not so big, but we can build cane sugar mill in several areas. The policy is to get closer to the material resources and on the other hand is to get closer to the market as well. The cane sugar mill will operate everyday, the whole year around (approximately 250 days a year), and this is the different between the conventional cane sugar mill (which produces crystallized white sugar) in Indonesia and the liquid cane sugar mill which will be built, soon. The conventional one can not produce crystallized sugar if the content of the sucrose in the cane less than 12 %. That’s why they should wait the cane until mature and it is about (and minimum) 12 month of age. While liquid cane sugar mill doesn’t need that kind of condition, even the cane can be harvested early (about 9 – 10 month of age). So, commonly in Indonesia the conventional cane sugar mill operate about 6 months only. Another added value of the liquid sugar mill are: the conversion yield is high because the waste is very little, chemical free, and the fresh cane juice contains of sakaran and octacosanol (a new research) . Sakaran is anti diabetic compound and octacosanol is long chain alcohol compound which can be acting as an agent for reducing cholesterol in the body of human being . Those kinds of compound are disappear when it is processed in the conventional way. Thus, we will promote and sell cane juice for healthy drink instead.
The liquid sugar and cane juice mill will be a profitable business in Indonesia because of the very high demand as it has already illustrated above, and there is no liquid sugarcane mill in Indonesia yet, more over the membrane technology is very newest technology in sugar cane industry in Indonesia, and we will be the first group/company in using that technology. To materialize the project, it needs approximately USD 3 million for both investment and operational cost (working capital) per project.
The liquid sugar cane mill & cane juice business will be built in unique, small, beautiful, but with modern management system, and it will be built in 20 places (in Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Sumatra & Sulawesi) in Franchise Business Model. Any party are interested with this project ? We have a complete its business plan. Please contact : tgh_55@yahoo.com.
* private document
Australia merupakan benua “terkecil” di dunia yang letaknya di bumi bagian selatan. Luas daratannya 7.617.930 km2, kira-kira empat kali lipatnya luas daratan Indonesia (luas daratan Indonesia: 1.826.440 km2). Daerahnya cenderung datar, terutama di bagian tengah, dan memang Australia merupakan benua yang paling datar di dunia. Sebagian dari benua tersebut adalah plato rendah. Tanah-tanah yang datar merupakan daerah padang rumput yang memang sangat cocok untuk peternakan. Menurut “Australia Bureau of Statistic” pada tanggal 30 juni 2001 benua tersebut telah dihuni oleh 19,7 juta warga Australia. Bandingkan dengan jumlah populasi sapinya yang mencapai 24,5 juta ekor. Sedangkan jumlah domba/biri-birinya mencapai lebih dari 120 juta ekor (enam kali lipat jumlah penduduk Australianya !).
Secara historis, masalah “persapian” di Australia di awali dengan empat ekor sapi betina dan dua ekor sapi jantan jenis Indian Zebu yang dibeli di Cape Town, Afrika Selatan pada tahun 1788 dan dikapalkan ke Australia. Awalnya sapi-sapi tersebut dimanfaatkan untuk mengangkut barang dan juga untuk diternakkan. Dalam tempo tujuh tahun sapi tersebut berkembang menjadi 60 ekor dan pada tahun 1820 (32 tahun kemudian) telah terdapat kurang lebih 54.000 ekor sapi di Australia. Jumlah ternak sapi yang terbesar waktu itu dimiliki oleh John Macarthur dan Reverend S.Marsden. Selanjutnya pada tahun 1840 telah tercatat jumlah sapi di Australia mencapai 371.699 ekor.
Sejalan dengan maraknya bisnis pertambangan emas pada tahun 1850-an menyebabkan permintaan akan daging meningkat. Itulah yang menyebabkan para peternak memindahkan sapi-sapinya dari daerah sekitar Sydney sampai ke daerah pertambangan emas yang sangat terkenal di Australia, yaitu di daerah Kimberleys, Australia Barat. Sapi-sapi tersebut digiring berminggu-minggu, tak jarang harus menyeberangi sungai yang lebarnya mencapai 80 meter. Pada tahun 1950-an jumlah ternak sapi di Australia mencapai 13,6 juta ekor.
Di jaman modern sekarang ini untuk memindahkan sapi dari suatu tempat/daerah ke daerah lain menggunakan truck trailler yang menyerupai kereta api / lori. Sedangkan untuk menggiring sapi (kelompok sapi) dari satu blok penggembalaan ke blok penggembalaan yang lain telah digunakan tidak saja kuda seperti dalam film-film cowboy, tetapi juga motor trailler, dan bahkan helicopter ! Karena peternakan besar yang sering disebut dengan istilah “station” luasnya bisa mencapai 29.000 km2 dan jumlah ternaknya/sapinya dapat mencapai lebih dari 50.000 ekor ! Dari industri ternak sapi ini menyumbangkan 3.576 milyar dollar Australia bagi ekonomi Australia. Indonesia pernah menjadi tujuan ekspor ternak sapi yang utama bagi Australia. Di tahun 1999 ekspor ternak sapi hidup ke Indonesia pernah mencapai lebih dari 300.000 ekor.
Industri wol di Australia merupakan salah satu yang terbesar di dunia. Ini ditandai dengan banyaknya peternak biri-biri/domba. Seperti yang telah disebutkan di atas jumlah biri-biri di Australia per tanggal 30 Juni 2001 mencapai lebih dari 120 juta ekor. Namun demikian akibat bencana kekeringan yang melanda Australia antara tahun 2002 – 2003 menyebabkan populasi domba menurun drastis, dan sesuai dengan data statistik per tanggal 30 Juni 2003 dari Australia Bureau of Statistic jumlah ternak domba berada di angka 99.3 juta ekor. Domba yang dikembangkan di Australia kebanyakan jenis Merino. Pertama kali domba jenis Merino diintroduksi ke Australia pada tahun 1797. Domba Merino Australia terkenal akan wolnya yang bermutu bagus. Pelopor peternak domba Merino adalah Captain Macarthur yang membuka daerah peternakan di daerah New South Wales. Di daerah peternakan domba, tidak jarang dijumpai para peternak tersebut disamping menggunakan kuda untuk menggiring domba-dombanya ke padang rumput, juga menggunakan anjing-anjing peternakan yang sangat terlatih, yang dapat mengarahkan ternak tersebut menuju padang rumput yang baru. Karena sekali giring jumlahnya bisa mencapai ribuan ekor domba sehingga dari kejauhan kerumunan domba-domba tersebut bagaikan “dawet”.
Australia menghasilkan wol tidak kurang 1.000 juta kilogram setiap tahunnya. Wol yang halus digunakan untuk membuat pakaian, sedangkan wol yang kasar digunakan membuat selimut dan karpet. Sebagai hasil samping dari wol, Australia tiap tahun menghasilkan daging domba dan daging anak domba lebih dari 350.000 ton yang dikonsumsi di dalam negeri dan 220.800 ton yang diekspor
* From various sources
Andalan Wisata Agro di Queensland, Australia
Oleh: Teguh Suprijanto (ayah saya)
“Welcome to Australia’s number one tourist attraction”. Itulah kalimat sambutan bagi pengunjung/wisatawan Obyek Wisata Agro yang sangat terkenal di Australia, “THE BIG PINAPPLE”. Nama tersebut memang cocok dengan maskot dan sekaligus icon kawasan wisata seluas 170 hektar itu, yakni bangunan berupa nanas raksasa setinggi 16 meter. The Big Pineapple didirikan dan dibuka sebagai Obyek Wisata Agro sejak tahun 1971. Letaknya di daerah yang dikenal dengan sebutan “Sunshine Coast”, kira-kira hanya satu jam dengan bus ataupun kendaraan pribadi dari kota Brisbane yang merupakan ibu kota negara bagian Queensland. Bangunan yang menyerupai nanas raksasa itu terbuat dari bahan fiberglass, didalamnya terdapat material informasi yang menggambarkan dan menceriterakan tentang obyek wisata The Big Pineapple dan segala macam aktivitasnya, serta obyek-obyek wisata yang lain diseantero wilayah Sunshine Coast. Pada jam-jam tertentu di dalam bangunan tersebut diputarkan film / slide yang menceritakan tentang kawasan wisata The Big Pineapple, apa saja yang ada didalamnya, dan macam kegiatan apa saja yang dapat dilakukan. Informasi tersebut juga ada unsur edukasinya, antara lain diceriterakan buah nanas itu asal muasalnya dari mana, dari bagian apanya nanas itu diperbanyak dan dikembangkan / dibudidayakan, cara dan kapan mulai dipanen sejak dari mulai tanam, dari buah nanas tersebut dapat diolah jadi apa saja, dsb. Penjelasan / informasi tersebut sangat gamblang dan populer, disertai dengan gambar-gambar / foto yang menarik, sehingga anak kecilpun dapat dengan mudah memahaminya. Ini sekaligus mendidik dan menanamkan rasa cinta pada dunia pertanian terhadap anak-anak sejak dini.
Kawasan wisata tersebut di buka mulai jam 09.30 – 17.00 waktu setempat. Dibuka setiap hari, kecuali hari Natal dan ANZAC Day (hari libur Nasional Australia). Daerah disekitar kawasan The Big Pineapple merupakan daerah tujuan wisata terkenal, khususnya wisata agro, juga merupakan jalur wisata bahari, terutama menuju The Great Barrier Reef. Wisatawan yang datang di The Big Pineapple benar-benar dimanjakan dengan hamparan kebun buah-buahan tropis yang dibudidayakan di kawasan tersebut, mereka dapat berkeliling kawasan dengan menggunakan kendaraan yang dirancang khusus. Selain kebun buah-buahan, di tanam pula sayuran dan aneka bunga di dalam green house, wisatawan juga dapat menyaksikan aktivitas di dalam mini factory/mini industries nanas dan Macadamia Nut. Bagi keluarga yang membawa putera-puterinya dapat “bercengkerama” secara langsung dengan binatang/wildlife asli Australia, seperti Kanguru, Koala, dsb. Bila haus ataupun lapar, beberapa restauran di kawasan tersebut menyuguhkan masakan ala Queensland yang sangat lezat. Juga tersedia outlet / toko-toko yang menjual barang seni berkualitas, kerajinan tangan, serta aneka cinderamata lainnya untuk oleh-oleh.
Sejarah The Big Pineapple diawali tatkala Bill dan Lynne Taylor pada tahun 1971 membeli lahan pedesaan di wilayah Queensland Sunshine Coast dengan luas 23 hektar. Lahan tersebut lalu ditanami nanas. Satu tahun kemudian ada pemikiran: “bagaimana kalau kebun nanas tersebut dijadikan obyek/atraksi wisata ?” Ide inilah yang pada akhirnya mencuatkan tempat tersebut menjadi obyek tujuan wisata yang sangat terkenal di Australia dan mendapatkan penghargaan dari “Australian Tourism Development” serta Asosiasi Biro Perjalanan Wisata Australia.
Selanjutnya pada tahun 1978 lahan baru dibuka, yaitu kebun kacang Macadamia (Macadamia Nut), jalur mobil wisata dan kereta rel di kawasan wisata telah dibangun untuk melayani pengunjung berkeliling kawasan. Pengunjung dapat berkeliling kebun nanas, pabrik mini pengolahan nanas, keliling kebun kacang Macadamia dan pabrik pengolahannya. Mobil wisatanya di design sedemikian rupa sehingga bentuknya seperti kereta api mini dan tempat penumpang mirip biji/polong kacang Macadamia (walaupun disebut kacang, tanaman kacang Macadamia tidak seperti kacang tanah, tetapi tanamannya berupa pohon dan buahnya bulat hampir seperti bola pingpong, agak kecil sedikit).
Pada tahun 1981 “The Big Pineapple” dibeli oleh perusahaan “Landray Industries”, saat itulah “revolusi” dibidang pariwisata dimulai. Landray mengembangkan konsep “Natural Tourism” yang memformulasikan “Tropical Agriculture” melalui pariwisata. Sekarang konsep Landray tersebut dikenal dengan istilah “agritourism”. Saat ini “agritourism” di Australia dikenal memegang peranan penting sebagai bagian dari promosi dan pemasaran tujuan wisata Australia.
Pada tahun 1984 fasilitas “Nutcountry Tour” yang menggunakan mobil keliling berbentuk seperti polong kacang Macadamia telah diperluas jangkauannya ke hutan tropis sekeliling kawasan. Selanjutnya fasilitas lain dibangun, yaitu “Queensland Hidden Treasures” telah dibuka sebagai obyek baru yang merupakan tempat display spektakuler tentang batu-batu mulia, termasuk diantaranya jade/giok dan opal Australia yang terkenal itu. Fasilitas lain seperti restauran juga dibangun. Pada tahun itu juga raja koran Australia Mr.Rupert Murdoch di bawah bendera Queensland Press telah membeli / mengambil alih obyek wisata The big Pineapple. Pada tahun 1986 arealnya bertambah menjadi 113 hektar dan fasilitas parkir baru telah dibangun yang dapat menampung 420 kendaraan roda empat serta 20 kendaraa bus wisata besar. Beberapa restauran di bangun lagi dan ada yang dapat menampung 1000 orang. Pada tahun 1988 gedung baru dibangun dengan nama “Tomorrows Harvest”, didalamnya berisi display tentang sejarah hortikultura. Dibangun pula “green house”. Selanjutnya sampai dengan hari ulang tahun ke-25 beberapa fasilitas lagi telah dibangun, termasuk diantaranya “The Wildlife Garden” yang berisi aneka jenis burung dan satwa lain asli Australia, juga gedung pertemuan yang dapat menampung ratusan orang untuk seminar-seminar. Pada tahun 1996 perusahaan tersebut telah dijual ke Roughend Pineapple Pty Ltd, arealnya diperluas menjadi 170 hektar. Fasilitas lain di bangun lagi, seperti Environmental Shop, dan paket tour yang merupakan atraksi malam hari dikemas dalam acara “Creatures of the Night Nocturnal House”. Jadilah obyek wisata agro The Big Pineapple seperti sekarang ini. Jumlah pengunjung tiap hari rata-rata sekitar 7.000 orang.
* From various sources
Oleh: Teguh Suprijanto(ayah saya)
Buah apel telah lama dikenal sebagai sumber diet serat-seratan, dapat menurunkan kolesterol, mencegah penyakit kanker dan membantu pencernaan. Konon kabarnya karena apel yang jatuh dari pohonnya ISAAC NEWTON mendapatkan inspirasi dan pada akhirnya menemukan Hukum Gravitasi yang sangat terkenal itu. Apel (Malus sylvestris) yang dikenal sekarang ialah hibrida yang berasal dari apel liar Malus pumila termasuk dalam divisi Spermatophyta, kelas dikotil, dan keluarga Rosaceae. Menurut The World Book Encyclopedia apel sudah menjadi buah favorit sejak berabad-abad lalu. Para arkeolog yang menyelidiki bekas-bekas reruntuhan sebuah desa di Eropa pada jaman batu menemukan bukti bahwa waktu itu apel sudah dikonsumsi orang. Penemuan fosil apel di sebuah danau purba di Swiss sering dijadikan patokan, apel sudah dikenal sejak berabad-abad lalu. Demikian juga dengan tentara-tentara Romawi. Berkat invasi Romawi ke berbagai Negara, tanaman apel bisa tersebar keseluruh penjuru Eropa. Dari Eropa apel masuk ke Amerika di bawa oleh para kolonis.
Ada dugaan apel pertama kali di tanam disebelah selatan Kaukasus. Perkiraan itu muncul lantaran dihutan-hutan purba di daerah itu ditemukan pohon apel liar yang tumbuh dalam jumlah banyak. Dari situ pohon ini kemudian menyebar melewati laut Kaspia ke Eropa. Bekas buahnya memfosil ditemukan didasar sebuah danau di Swiss. Pohon itu selanjutnya menyebar ke daratan Asia Timur Raya setelah tentara Jenghis Khan menyerbu Eropa.
Varietas yang dikembangkan di Indonesia umumnya didatangkan dari Eropa dan Australia melalui China pada tahun 1900-an. Di Indonesia tempat yang terbukti cocok ialah Batu, Ponco Kusumo (Malang) dan Nongko Jajar (Pasuruan). Dulu juga pernah berkembang di daerah NTT (sekitar Soe), tapi karena serangan penyakit akhirnya tanaman apel disana tidak berkembang. Di Batu apel-apel tersebut di bawa dan ditanam orang di pekarangan rumah pada jaman penjajahan Belanda. Waktu itu hanya sedikit orang yang menanamnya. Setelah tahun 1960-an barulah pohon buah ini memasyarakat. Sekarang daerah Batu, Nongko Jajar, dan Ponco Kusumo merupakan sentra apel tropis terbesar di Indonesia.
Bila di daerah asalnya yang beriklim Subtropis apel hanya dapat dipanen sekali dalam setahun, di Indonesia bisa dua kali, bahkan sepanjang tahun. Penyebabnya karena di Negara beriklim dingin daun-daun apel berguguran di musim gugur dan “tidur” / dorman pada musim dingin (winter season), sehingga praktis selama musim dingin pohon-pohon apel tersebut tidak berbuah. Ini sebenarnya kejadian alam yang diperlukan untuk mematahkan masa dormansi. Di Indonesia, yang tidak memiliki musim gugur,masa dormansi dipecahkan dengan teknik perompesan. Daun-daun tanaman apel dibuang sampai gundul, mirip dengan kondisi tanaman saat musim gugur di Negara empat musim/subtropics. Teknik perompesan ini karena kreativitas dan eksplorasi petani-petani kita, khususnya petani-petani apel Batu, Nongko Jajar, dan Ponco Kusumo yang merupakan pioneer-pioner teknik budidaya tanaman apel di Indonesia. Meskipun Jumlah kultivar apel lebih dari 2000, tapi yang paling terkenal hanya sedikit. Beberapa varietas yang dapat dijumpai di batu, Nongko Jajar, maupun Ponco Kusumo, antara lain manalagi, rome beauty, jonathan (anna), wangling, princess noble, mc.intoch, dan fuji. Yang terkenal sebagai apel Malang adalah ROME BEAUTY & MANALAGI. Kedua apel inilah yang paling baik untuk dikonsumsi sebagai buah segar dan olahan sebagai sumber “diet” yang menyehatkan, dan bukanlah apel impor yang umumnya sudah “over ripe” dan tinggal ampasnya saja.
Ada istilah “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, paling tidak ada sepuluh manfaat memakan buah apel setiap hari, antara lain:
1. Apel rasanya enak, “energy boosting” (dapat menambah energy) dan bebas lemak.
2. Sebutir apel ukuran sedang mengandung 60 – 100 kalori, tidak mengandung lemak maupun sodium.
3. Kandungan serat, zat pectin, antioxidants dan senyawa-senyawa lain dapat menurunkan LDL kolesterol negative dan membantu meningkatkan LDL kolesterol positive, serta membantu pencernaan.
4. Zat flavanoids dan phytochemical di dalam apel dapat mencegah kanker paru-paru, serta mencegah serangan asthma.
5. Apel mengandung zat boron, suatu zat yang dibutuhkan oleh tubuh untuk memelihara kerapatan tulang (mencegah tulang keropos/osteoporosis) dan mencegah sakit jantung.
6. Zat tannin dalam apel mencegah gigi busuk/keropos, penyakit gusi dan infeksi saluran kencing.
7. Makan apel sebutir setiap hari akan mencegah serangan stroke. Ini disebabkan karena kandungan potassium di dalam apel cukup tinggi, sangat penting untuk mengatur tekanan darah (mencegah darah tinggi).
8. Vitamin dan antioxidants di dalam apel dapat mencegah kepikunan (penyakit pikun).
9. Zat quercetin (flavanoid) dapat mencegah penyakit kanker lebih baik dibandingkan dengan yang dilakukan vitamin C. Zat tersebut juga sangat baik untuk kulit tubuh kita.
10. Apel merupakan sumber utama “folic acid” (vitamin B complex) yang dapat mencegah bayi cacat pada waktu kelahiran.
Sayang potensi yang besar itu sangat kurang diperhatikan oleh kita, terutama departemen teknis yang terkait dan pemda/pemkot yang mempunyai wilayah apel tropis. Usaha pengembangan apel tropis kita ini nampaknya perlu lebih serius lagi ke depannya.
* take from any source & private doc
Agro tourism as a choice for Diversifying Revenue Sources in Agribusiness Sector, case experience of Batu City *
By: Teguh Suprijanto (my father)
I. Introduction
Indonesia, the largest archipelago and the fifth most populous nation in the world, has total of 17,508 islands, of which about 6,000 are inhabited. Indonesia extends 3,198 miles (5,150 km) between the Australian and Asian continental mainland’s and divides the Pacific and Indian Oceans at the Equator. With the total land area of 767,777 square miles (1,919,443 sq.km), its 234 million inhabitants (July 2003 est) are made up of 300 ethnic groups who speak an estimated 583 different languages and dialects. There are five main islands in Indonesia. These are: Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Irian Jaya (Papua). As an agrarian country in which more than 50 percent of the labor force still works in agriculture, Indonesia will not be able to make much progress in improving public welfare without rapid agriculture development.
The mission of the constitution is politically clarified by the Guidelines for National Development (GBHN), mentioning the national economic development has the following mission: (1) To develop global oriented economy in line with the advancing technology by creating competitive advantage through the existing comparative advantage in terms of agriculture and marine resources, base on the regional competence and product priorities (especially agriculture in the broad sense); (2) Empowering small scale, medium and cooperative enterprises to become more efficient, more productive, and acquire competitive strength through a conducive business climate and expanding business opportunity; (3) To strengthen food security system based on diversified food commodities, local culture and institution; (4) To increase acquisition, development and utilization of science and technology, including local technology developed by the people in small scale, medium and cooperative enterprises to improve the competitive strength of the product using local resources; (5) Accelerate the development of an effective and resilient regional economy by empowering the actors and actuating the regional potential, so that equitable economic growth can be achieved along with the implementation of regional autonomy; (6) Accelerate rural development within the context of empowering of the rural people, especially farmers and fishermen through the provision of infrastructure, and the development of agribusiness, small scale and handicraft industries.
Considering the fact that the resources owned by the people are generally agribusiness resources (human resources, land, irrigation, biodiversity, and so on) and almost 90 percent of small scale, medium and cooperative enterprises is within the domain of agribusiness, and hence the most suitable national economic development to meet the mission of the constitution is agribusiness system development
The reality that the role of agriculture sector very important as a main basic of the national economy to tackle a crisis impact. For the regional economy development will be realized with the application of agro tourism and agribusiness concept in regional economy development or local economy development
In agro tourism concept, service center will be given by village level and a place near with farmer stay, for the agriculture activity service, working capital credit and market information.
Agricultural tourism (also known as agri tourism and agro tourism) can have significant benefits for farmers and communities in the agropolitant of Batu City. Agricultural tourism has substantial economic impacts on local economic. In addition, agro tourism provides opportunities for diversification and economic incentives for farmers, promotes economic development and helps educate the public about the important contributions of agriculture to the country’s economy and quality of life.
II. Batu City
It’s about 19 km from Malang City and about 2 hours drive from Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia. Batu is located at 680 – 1,700 meter above sea level and it has already known as the tourists destination. Surrounded by mountains and volcano, such as Mt.Panderman (2,040 m), Mt.Arjuno (3,339 m), Mt.Welirang (active volcano, 2,156 m), Mt. Anjasmoro (2,277 m) and Mt.Kawi (2,651 m). Batu offers hot springs, a variety of sports (para gliding, hiking, climbing, etc), agro tourism, rest and relaxation, natural object (tropical rain forest, water fall, etc), and historical (the old temple from Majapahit Kingdom era). Batu is well known for its delicious fruits and vegetables, especially apples, citrus, strawberry, onion, potatoes, and cabbage. The area of Batu is 20,280 hectares and the agriculture land for cultivation is about 7,262,051 hectares. The apple orchard/farm coverage area 2, 574 hectares, with its production reached 9,134 ton
Tourism and agriculture are the main business in Batu, ranking first and second respectively as the city income. Batu has a resident population of around 165,546, and takes in a tourist population of more than five times the resident population over year. Current trends in the tourist industry show increasing demand for experience, nonconventional/mass commercial tourism activities. This trend has extended into the agricultural sector because the appeal for agricultural and farm-based tourism attractions is also increasing. The relative importance of local tourism and agricultural industries may result in agro tourism becoming an important segment of Batu City’s tourism product mix. In addition to conventional tourism, the city’s tourist industry also markets nature-based tourism. Marketing agro tourism as a separate segment of tourism industry could have substantial benefits for local agriculture.
Agro tourism is defined as any business conducted by a farmer for the enjoyment or education of the public, to promote the products of the farm and to generate additional farm income (Hilchey 1993). It includes a variety of facilities and activities that are increasingly available in Batu City, such as farm visits (pick the apple, oranges, strawberry or tomatoes), agro industries, accommodation, etc. Combining the conventional tourism industries with the uniqueness and diversity of local agriculture may offer a whole new set opportunities for farmers to diversify their operations and their revenue source.
The potential benefits of agro tourism for local agriculture are varied. First, agro tourism may generate diversification opportunities for local farmers to increase revenues and enhance the viability of their operations. Second, it may be excellent tool to educate the public about the importance of agriculture and its contribution to the country/cities’ economy and quality of life. Third, it may stimulate the farmer’s culture for producing high quality of agricultural products. Finally, agro tourism may enhance the appeal and demand for local products, foster regional marketing efforts and create value-added and direct-marketing opportunities that may stimulate economic activity and spread the benefits to various communities in the country.
Agricultural tourism is one alternative for improving the incomes and potential economic viability of small farms and rural communities.
Location of batu city:
Tourists/Visitors in the apple farm, they are picking apples after paying entrance fee
* from Various sources & private doc
A skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a quad wheeled, dual "truck" and quad bearing system designed for both movement and stunts, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The modern skateboard originated in California in the late 1950s. By the mid 1960s they were mass produced and sold throughout the United States.
A skateboard is propelled by pushing with one foot while the other remains on the board, by pumping in structures such as a pool or half pipe or by jumping off the board and pushing it. A skateboard can also be used by simply standing on the deck while on a downward slope and allowing gravity to propel the board and rider.
There is no governing body that declares any regulations on what constitutes a skateboard or the parts from which it is assembled. Historically, the design of the board has conformed both to contemporary trends and to the ever evolving array of stunts performed by riders/users, who require a certain functionality from the board. Of course, the board shape depends largely upon its desired function. Longboards are a type of skateboard with a longer wheelbase and larger and softer wheels.
