Urban Farming Group Members Return to Maintaining Balkot Farm

The urban farming group members have returned to maintaining Balkot Farm in City Hall area, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Gambir, Central Jakarta.

All this time we rely more on residents who are Balkot Farm members to carry out its maintenance in the past two weeks

Jakarta Maritime, Agriculture and Food Security Agency's Agriculture Division Head Mujiati said, because of COVID-19 pandemic, Balkot Farm maintenance was relatively unoptimal.

"All this time we rely more on residents who are Balkot Farm members to carry out its maintenance in the past two weeks," she expressed, on Monday (7/13).

Empon-empon Has Been Cultivated at Balkot Farm

According to her, those members were from various regions of Jakarta such as, Gg Hijau and Pesanggrahan Sub-district RPTRA caretakers (South Jakarta), Sawah Besar Sub-district RPTRA and Johar Baru Sub-district caretakers (Central Jakarta), Gg Hijau caretakers, Kembangan Sub-district (West Jakarta), Gg Hijau caretakers, Koja Sub-district (North Jakarta) and Duren Sawit Sub-district Framers Group (East Jakarta).

"The success and sustainability of crop cultivation at Balkot Farm is because of the dedication of the community of urban farming group members from various regions who routinely and voluntarily to maintain plants, ranging from vegetables, toga and fruit alternately," she told.

Aside that she would welcome for urban farming members in Jakarta who want to join to maintain the City Hall's Balkot Farm. Nevertheless, they should remain comply with health protocols.

"They must wear a mask, wash hands with a soap, as well as maintain physical distancing to protect themselves from coronavirus," she explained.

As for the information, Balkot Farm was formed by the initiation and collaboration of various regional working units (SKPD). The agency provides technical assistance to urban farming members involved.

Its implementation also involves the Jakarta Communication, Informatics and Statistic Agency in making and spreading information and developing Internet of Thing (IoT) technology. As for the General Bureau is responsible for providing land and PT Bank DKI assists in funding the development of facilities in the Balkot Farm area through a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.