The Minister of disadvantaged areas of the Republic of Indonesia (PDT), Ir. H. A Helmy Faisal Zaini visited one site of the Peningkatan Ekonomi Kakao Aceh (PEKA) project, sub-project Aceh-EDFF in the district of Pidie Jaya on Thursday, the 9th of June, 2011. Hosted by the Regent and Vice Regent of Pidie Jaya, the Minister and his team went to the District Cocoa Clinic (DCC) in Paru Cot, Pidie Jaya. Besides a discussion session with cocoa farmers which are participating in the Farmer Field School (batch II), the Minister also had a close look on activities, facilities and infrastructure provided by the PEKA project to support the cocoa development for farmers, traders and the local government.
The Minister of PDT who was accompanied by his Assistant Deputy Development KPDT Superior Commodities, Dr.Rusnadi Padjung MSc, looked forward to the integration of EDFF activities that are focused on the development of lead commodities to accelerate economic growth in Aceh. According to Faisal Zaini, the ministry of PDT, encourages and supports local initiatives in improving publics’ welfare using lead commodities such as cocoa. The ministry of PDT highly appreciates Swisscontact as one implementer of EDFF as it is significantly contributing to an improved local economy, particularly its cocoa industry.
Accompanied by the Regent of Pidie Jaya, Drs. H. Gade Salam, the Minister PDT also planted young cocoa plants in the superior clones’ demonstration plot. The District reported that they allocate ten thousands hectares of farming land in Pidie Jaya for the development of cocoa which is one of the three main commodities produced in Pidie Jaya besides food crops and fisheries.
Swisscontact Asia Report 2010 provides an overview of Swisscontact’s activties and projects under the two Regional Offices in South Asia and South East Asia based in Dhaka and Jakarta respectively. The pdf version of the publication can be found here.
Swisscontact, through its project Peningkatan Ekonomi Kakao Aceh (Improvement of the Aceh Cocoa Economy), a sub project of the Aceh Economic Development Financing Facility (EDFF), has successfully organized the 1st cocoa conference in Aceh. The Aceh Cocoa Conference (ACC) was specifically held to discuss the cocoa commodity in Aceh. The event, which took place in Banda Aceh on March 10 – 11, 2011, was attended by various stake holders involved within the cocoa industry both in and outside of Aceh, including abroad.
On this occasion, the representatives from Directorate General of Estate Crop Department of Agriculture, Directorate General of Foreign Trade of Department Trade, Advisor of Disadvantages Area Department, and the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institution were present. Representing the Aceh Government were Government Secretary Aceh, Advisor of Vice Governor, BPTP Aceh, Head of Districts (Bireuen, Aceh Tamiang, Pidie Jaya, Aceh Tenggara, and Aceh Barat Daya), Head of Extension Service of Forestry and Estate Crop, Extension Service of Industry and Trade, and BAPPEDA both provincial and district. From the private sector, there were exporters such as Armajaro, Mars, Cargill, ECOM, Barry Callebaut, whilst from manufacturers/grinders those in attendance included General Food Industries, Nestlé, Cocoa Ventures and Bumi Tangerang. On behalf of researchers, there was the University of Syiah Kuala and University of Malikussaleh; and also others institutions that are involved in cocoa development programs. Realize true cocoa development in particular depends on the presence of primary producers, namely cocoa farmers. For that reason, Swisscontact exclusively invited representatives of its assisted farmers from the five districts to attend the conference. And last, PEKA project’s partner like the World Cocoa Foundation, which is a partner in improving the capacity of Aceh researchers, attended the event. There were a total 250 participants for this 1st cocoa conference.
With the support of the stakeholders’ presence, it is then expected to be able to build a mutual and sustainable cocoa industry in Aceh. As a result of the presentations and discussions during the two days conference, several recommendations were formed which then will be conveyed to government both at national and provincial level. These recommendations consisted of:
a.Presently the cocoa productivity in Aceh is relatevely low, approx 400 kg/ha/year, whilst the national average is 700kg/ha/year. In several producing regions outside Aceh even reach two tons/ha/year. The low productivity in Aceh is mainly caused by non-standardized cultivation management such as minim usage of good clones, poor farming practices (fertilizer, IPM, pruning), and also improper post-harvest management. Therefore, to improve both productivity and quality the selection of good clones is required as well as socialization of fertilizer’s usage based on soil test carried out by BPTP. There must also be a Cocoa Information Center in every district;
b.Both government and private concerns should consider the related issues such as farmers empowerment, lands certification, capacity building for farmer groups and the socialization of proper cocoa fermentation as part of improving the selling value;
c.Since July 2010, Swisscontact implements the project Peningkatan Ekonomi Kakao Aceh (PEKA), a sub project of the Aceh Economic Development Financing Facility (EDFF). The PEKA project focuses on rehabilitation, enhancement of cocoa farmers’ and traders’ knowledge and skills, development of cocoa master plans and the strengthening of the Aceh Cocoa Forum. Considering the projects’ duration, the government should anticipate by preparing a follow up cocoa development program in Aceh.
On Thursday, September 16th, 2010, the Swiss Ambassador, Mr. Heinz Walker, representing the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and Mr. Frimansyah Rahim, Director General for Destination Development, representing the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, have signed a Project Agreement for collaboration of the tourism sector in Indonesia. The event was witnessed by the Governor of the province of NTT, Mr. Frans Lebu Raya.
Under this agreement, the Swiss Government through SECO will provide support for the development of Flores as tourism destination and has mandated Swisscontact with the implementation of the project ‘Wisata’. The project approach is based on Swisscontact’s experience in developing the region of West Manggarai (Komodo and so much more) during the years 2006 until 2008. Under the new project, the concept of destination management will be extended to the destination management of the whole Flores Island including the two National Parks of Komodo and surroundings and Kelimutu and surroundings as key attractions. Project preparation and implementation has already started in the second half of 2009 and the project will run for four years until 2013.
After the signing of the Project Agreement, the Ambassador visited Flores for two days, travelling from Maumere to Ende, where he got a first impression of the Florenese culture and Swisscontact’s ongoing work in the field of tourism promotion and local economic development. The Ambassador was accompanied by Peter Bissegger, Regional Director South East Asia, Ruedi Nuetzi, Project Manager Wisata, Mr. Widya Wicaksana, destination manager Eastern Flores and Mrs. Eith Suryatin, Project Manager LED-NTT. The Ambassador had the chance to visit the vocational training school SMK Tawa Tana in Kewapantai, Maumere, the One-Stop-Service office for business licenses in Sikka and followed by the cocoa farmer cooperative in Wolosoko, where our guest had the chance to see the impressive progress in reviving the cocoa sector in Flores. Definitly the whole LED-NTT team will closely watch the progress of the youngest cocoa tree in the demonstration plot, named after the Ambassador the ‘Heinz Walker clone’.
The visit came to an end in Ende with the meeting of the Head of the local Government, Mr. Don Bosco M Wangge, the testing of culinary highlights at the Ende traditional food centre and the traditional village of Wolotopo.
Swisscontact and the Wisata and LED-NTT teams specifically would like to express their appreciation of the visit of the Ambassador, which was hopefully only the start of additional visits of this fascinating destination Flores.
Swisscontact, together with the Economic Development and Financing Facility (EDFF) have launched a new program, called Peningkatan Ekonomi Kakao Aceh (PEKA). Addressing the development of the cocoa sub-sector in the Aceh province, this program will reach out into five selected districts and 12.500 cocoa farmers throughout the province.
Prior to the program’s implementation, the MoU between Swisscontact and the Government of Aceh has been signed in the office of BAPPEDA Aceh on July 2nd 2010. On behalf Swisscontact was Prashant Rana, Deputy Regional Director South East Asia, whilst Government of Aceh was represented by Syahyadi S.Pi, Msc, Task Force Leader of BAPPEDA ACEH.
In accordance to the implementation at the five districts, each district has to sign MoU with PEKA. On July 8th, the first district MoU signing took place in the Government of Aceh Barat Daya office. Swisscontact was represented by Manfred Borer, Program Manager PEKA, whilst Mr. Syamsurizal, Head of the District, was acting on behalf of the Government of Aceh Barat Daya District.
H.E. Mr. Heinz Edmund Walker, the new Swiss Ambassador, and Mr. Joerg Schneider representative of SECO (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs) visited Swisscontact on February 9th 2010. The Regional Director for SE Asia, Mr. Peter Bissegger gave a briefing on Swisscontact activities and achievements.
Five years after the tsunami, SPAN comes to an end in December 2009. At the occasion of the project phase-out, Swisscontact invited the Government and development partners to a seminar on ‘Business Recovery in Aceh’ that took place in Jakarta on the 17th of November 2009. The purpose of the event was to share results and discuss lessons-learnt from the project. SPAN has supported more than 1,450 micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSME) through a demand-oriented mix of financial and technical assistance. It directly created and sustained more than 8,440 jobs in the supported businesses. The failure rate of assisted business is below 2%.
Local Economic Development Nusa Tenggara Timur (LED NTT), one of Swisscontact Indonesia poverty-oriented projects, participated in the event marking the 50th Anniversary of Swisscontact in Zurich, Switzerland. LED NTT had a special information corner during the market session on August 20th. ‘Free samples of high quality cashew nuts were given to people. Many people liked it and started asking where it was produced’ explained Etih Suryatin Project Manager LED NTT. She added that this was a good event to show the project’s positive impacts and achievements, as well as to gain commitment and support from potential donors. For details on LED NTT activity please click here
READ (The Rural Economic Activity Development) program aims to promote economic growth and participation by improving selected value chains and basic business literacy in Aceh Tamiang. In the initial stage of the project, beneficiaries living in 8 villages in Aceh Tamiang Regency received an introduction to READ Programs. Ferry Sabam Samosir, Project Manager READ, said that socialization workshops conducted through ‘Wirid’ the community groups, provided him many valuable insights from the community. These workshops allowed the community to share their daily problems and ways of overcoming it. Financial Literacy will be the first activity conducted in these villages, which focus on practical ways of handling financial matters. Since July 27th READ’s 11 staff have occupied a new office at Jl. Ahmad Yani N0. 14-A Gampong Jawa Muka, Langsa, Nanggore Aceh Darusalam, Indonesia 24416. For more about READ Project please click http://www.swisscontact.or.id/projects/on-going-project/read
A Planning Workshop was held for recipients of the SEEP Network global grants for Urban Value Chain Development from 27 April to 1 May. Mercy Corps, Swisscontact, PUPUK and Micra are the consortium members implementing the value chain work in the Tofu and Tempe sectors of greater Jakarta. Mary McVay, Aly Miehlbradt and Sonali Chowdhury from SEEP Washington provided inputs. The workshop also had participants from similar programmes in Kenya and India.
The Minister of disadvantaged areas of the Republic of Indonesia (PDT), Ir. H. A Helmy Faisal Zaini visited one site of the Peningkatan Ekonomi Kakao Aceh (PEKA) project, sub-project Aceh-EDFF in the district of Pidie Jaya on Thursday, the 9th of June, 2011. Hosted by the Regent and Vice Regent of Pidie Jaya, the Minister […]
Swisscontact Asia Report 2010 provides an overview of Swisscontact’s activties and projects under the two Regional Offices in South Asia and South East Asia based in Dhaka and Jakarta respectively. The pdf version of the publication can be found here.
Swisscontact, through its project Peningkatan Ekonomi Kakao Aceh (Improvement of the Aceh Cocoa Economy), a sub project of the Aceh Economic Development Financing Facility (EDFF), has successfully organized the 1st cocoa conference in Aceh. The Aceh Cocoa Conference (ACC) was specifically held to discuss the cocoa commodity in Aceh. The event, which took place in […]