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The orange began to be cultivated in 1991-1992 by the citizens of transmigration from Java.
However, this new orange popular in most of mainland Papua in the 2000s. Sweet orange tree-like Sunkist has 3 to 4.5 meters high. This citrus cultivation centers in the Settlement Unit (SP) 3 Nabire. However, gradually, citrus land is reduced because most of the land taken over the local population with migrants reason it abandoned land. Almost half the region controlled by the natives.
Observations in SP 3 Nabire early May showed, some oranges around 20 years old began to brittle, dry and fruitless. Trunk black-white speckled orange, infestation of insects (ants). Branches, twigs, and branches of citrus was drying up.
Wakidiantono (50), citrus growers in SP 3 Nabire, say, has a land area of 2,500 square meters of the total area of one hectare owned since the beginning comes, 1981. About 7,000 square meters of land has been taken over the owner. The remaining land of 500 square meters for residential and yard.
"The advantage is only Rp 1.5 million per harvest. But this does not include the cost of fertilizer, spraying, and others so that the total expenditure of USD 1.4 million. Did not gain a lot because middlemen come directly to the site. Usually they borong 1 crate of about 50 kilograms (kg) at a price of $8. My orange harvest ranged between 13-15 crate or 1.56 million to 1.8 million per harvest, "said Wakidianto.
He did not merely rely on citrus. Wakidianto still raise three cows and poultry to overcome the difficulties of the narrow arable land.
Oranges survive only up to 10 days so that the farmers did not maintain a set price middleman. They were forced to approve the request of middlemen.
According to the Chairman of Farmers Group Oranges Nabire, Mulutdiono (49), an orange tree usually produces 10 kg of fruit, but harvested in stages, up to six times a year. Orange Price $1 per kg, directly on the tree, but in the hands of middlemen to $1 per kg.
Hit by illness
However, citrus disease in the last five years no longer make local farmers interested in cultivating citrus. Symptoms of trees attacked by pests, seemed to bear fruit very dense but entered the age of 5-10 days, suddenly the leaves dry out, fall out, then die.
"The officer who came to the PPL also claimed not to know the type of pest and how to cope. They note that the orange tree bark dikupasi circumference with a width of approximately 5 cm and then dibaluti chalk. It was our own doing, but to no avail, "said Mulutdiono.
Suparmin, migrants from Malang, East Java, has one hectare of citrus orchards. The first harvest 190 crates (9,500 kg) and a second crop of 170 crates (8,500 kg). Those commodities are sold at $10 per crate. In one season, he managed to collect Rp 54 million.
When attacked by pests (fungi), the part is trimmed (cut), or stems directly dibaluti whiting and sulfur. The knowledge gained from his parents in Malang, which is also orange cultivator.
He said there is a plan of Nabire District Government and the Provincial Government of Papua expand orange Nabire. But the problem is, most of the agricultural land is taken over transmigration people indigenous people for no apparent reason.
"They're working on that, as he said, you have a certificate from the government but we have land, inherited from ancestors. We also want to live in their own land. Well, if they talk like that, we want to let alone. This problem has been known to the local authorities, but no action, "said Suparmin.
Head of Department of Agriculture and Foodstuffs Nabire JS Maniani said the total land area of approximately 10 188 hectares of citrus Nabire with an average production of 62,800 tons per year. Oranges developed in tandem with the presence of migrants, which spread from the outskirts of the town of Nabire, namely Morgomulyo to Bumi Raya village, 15 km from Nabire.
Fruit belle
Nabire is an excellent citrus fruit Papua, besides matoa. Equally sweet citrus flavor with citrus imports, although the orange Nabire not seem like oranges imported from China.
"Oranges Nabire ever ordered the State Palace on alert August 17, 2010. We send 250 kg and extraordinary acclaim. They appreciate oranges and continue to push for the district government and the provincial government continues to expand the area under citrus plants that exist, "said Maniani.
Oranges are usually sent to Manado Nabire, Sorong, Biak, Manokwari, Jayapura and Timika. But this citrus grapefruit compete with imports that flooded a number of supermarkets, fruit shops, and markets in a number of districts in Papua.
Observations in Nabire airport, hundreds of passengers who wanted to get out of Nabire carrying oranges in packaged form with a size of 4 kg 6 kg. It turns out more desirable orange Nabire residents of Jayapura, Timika, Manokwari and Sorong than citrus imports.
Jerson Kapouw, residents Sentani, Jayapura, Nabire orange lovers met at Nabire airport said, citrus imports in shops and supermarkets Jayapura water is not much so it just feels like a cork when chewed.
Oranges imported accidentally processed with chemicals so the fruit looks great, but its skin is thicker. The meat was a little orange. But Nabire orange sweet, solid contents, a full watering and no fertilizer or chemicals such as citrus imports. "The Sweetness, kitong like," said Kapouw.