East Jakarta Empowerment and Welfare Movement Team (TP PKK) in collaboration with PT East West Seed Indonesia (Cap Panah Merah) is holding the New Medesta Melon Growing Contest in 65 urban villages and 10 sub-districts.

"It is very important to improve family's food security,"

This contest began with sowing melon seeds in polybags simultaneously in all areas throughout East Jakarta with a slogan "For East to Plant New Medesta Melon".

East Jakarta TP PKK Chairperson, Essy Feransie Munjirin, conveyed that the contest was a flagship program of Working Group (Pokja) 3 in the food sector.

"It is very important to improve family's food security, including by planting melon," she said, on Monday (6/30).

Essy revealed, there were 75 locations participated in the event with a harvest period of about three months.

According to him, the New Medesta Melon was chosen because of its easy planting and maintenance, resistance to pests, and sweet and delicious taste, making it favored by many people.

"All seeds are provided by Cap Panah Merah. We will continue to monitor the progress of melon seed growing," she mentioned.

East Jakarta Assistant for Economy and Development (Ekbang), Fauzi, explained that the contest is part of urban farming development.

"Community participation in promoting melon cultivation in East Jakarta is needed. Moreover, the contest will be assessed by professionals in agriculture," he asserted.

Head of Food Security and Agriculture Section at East Jakarta Food Security, Marine, and Agriculture (KPKP) Sub-agency, Hendra Juniarto, mentioned that his side also provided 6,500 Golden Alisha Melon seeds for the event.

"We give 100 seeds for each urban village with harvest potential to reach 3.5 tons," he added.

Meanwhile, Corporate Relations Supervisor of PT East West Seed Indonesia, Elvira Siska Erawati, said there were four criteria assessed in the contest, namely the fruit's weight, level of sweetness, urban farmer's creativity, and the beauty or cleanliness of the planting area.

"From the 1st to 3rd winners, as well as 1st and 2nd consolation winners will get prizes in form of gardening tools and shopping vouchers. In this competition, we provide 400 seeds," he said.