Indonesia: Hydroponics to take root in Marunda
The governor has even redecorated the garden of his official residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta. “A change in the landscape and parks can change the face of the city,” he said.
The hydroponic farming project at the Marunda low-cost apartments in North Jakarta is expected to be his latest breakthrough in expanding green spaces after the park at Pluit Reservoir.
Jokowi said he had chosen Marunda as the location of the pilot project to develop hydroponic farming in other low-cost apartments because it would be a long-term home for the residents, who had been squatting on state land but who have since been rehoused.
During the past three years, urban farming has become a hot topic among the middle class in Jakarta, especially those who want to watch the growing process of their food, food which usually produced far from the capital.
The concept of hydroponics, however, is still quite new in the country compared to traditional farming.“Hydroponic farming is not yet developed in Indonesia despite its great potential. Once farmers have learned about it in the greenhouse, they can spread the knowledge to other residents,” consultant to the farming program, Heru Agus Hendra, told The Jakarta Post recently.
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