Model Pengembangan Komoditas Gambir di Kabupaten Pakpak Bharat, Sumatera Utara

Abstract

The world's market demand for gambier as one of Indonesia's high-ranking commodities as the raw material for the pharmaceutical industry, food, textile, etc,, is increasing. Pakpak Bharat Regency is the biggest supplier for gambier in North Sumatera and has a high potential to develop its commodity due to the natural harmony, the availability of resources, and the history of gambier business from generation to generation. Business in gambier has a good economical prospect although it is unable to increase farmers’ welfare. This research uses mixed methods, namely the combination of qualitative data and quantitative data to answer the research problems. The research methodology consists of a dynamic system approach to develop the model of gambier commodity and ANT (Actor Network Theory) approach to analyze the actors involved in gambier development. The model is formed by four sub-models: gambier production, farmer-trader interaction, farmers' cash and credit, and welfare index. The interaction of the four sub-models yields four positive loops of feedback and five negative loops of feedback. Based on the interaction and ‘feedback in the model, there are 5 (five) policies influencing the increase in ‘farmers’ welfare; namely farmer resources, gambier processing technique, ‘farming productivity, gambier quality, and gambier supply chain. The result of the research shows that the policy scenario to increase farmers’ resources through the increase of fraction of land growth gradually from 0.2% t0 2% and the increase of yield of its land from 2.27 tons/hectare to 6 tons/hectare, has not been able to increase the farmer's welfare. The policy scenario to increase gambier processing technology through the acceleration of gambier drying time from 14 days to 7 days, and increase gambier reversion rate from 13.33% to 20%, can increase the farmers’ income even though the increase is relatively slow. The policy scenario 10 increase farmers’ productivity by increasing knowledge from 0.72 to 1, and the increase of time of motivation addition from 1 year to 0.3 year, is unable to increase farmers' welfare significantly. The policy scenario to increase gambier quality from 80% to 100% is able to increase farmers’ welfare which tends to be sustainable. The policy scenario of supply chain through the increase of percentage of dry gambier purchase by non-agents from 0% 10 40% is able to increase farmers’ income even though it is unable to increase it completely. The policy scenario on implementing all of the policies significantly increases farmers' welfare indicated by the increase in welfare index from 0.71 in 2022 10 1.58 in 2050. Of the five aspects of policy, the policy scenario to increase technology is the most effective policy in increasing farmers’ welfare.