Lack of agricultural land has made the residents living in East Jakarta decided to quit farming. Now, they are focusing on a program to develop agriculture product through oyster mushroom cultivation. Currently there are two groups of farmers in Kramatjati and Bambu Apus, East Jakarta, which have started cultivating oyster mushroom.

Oyster mushrooms can be harvested every day. The price could reach Rp 9-12 thousand per kilogram

“The amount (of farmer groups cultivating oyster mushroom) will increase in future. Sometime soon there would be also groups of farmers to cultivate oyster mushroom in Matraman and Cipayung,” uttered Head of East Jakarta Agriculture and Forestry Sub-Department, Bambang Wisanggeni, Saturday (6/7).

According to Wisanggeni, Matraman and Cipayung areas have an ideal climate for oyster mushroom cultivation. To develop it, his department makes a mushroom house in the size of 5x8 meters with a capacity of 300 kilograms of mushroom. Economically, oyster mushroom cultivation is quite promising. Moreover, the demand for oyster mushroom is increasing lately.

“ Oyster mushrooms can be harvested every day. The price could reach Rp 9-12 thousand per kilogram ,” he told.

If residents wanted to cultivate oyster mushroom, Wisanggeni said it can be proposed through development planning meeting (Musrenbang) or addressed it to East Jakarta Agriculture and Forestry Sub-Department.