Increasing the price of crops through joint marketing

Joint marketing has not been widely recognized by most people in North Central Timor. Most farmers in this province market their crops individually without considering a proper price.

The lack of information about market values also makes it difficult to decide a fair price for their crops. This leads to farmers receiving a lower price which is not suitable for the efforts they put into farming.

Wahana Visi Indonesia in North Central Timor offered them a joint marketing program to support the farmers. The purpose of joint marketing is to sell goods in one place, to one buyer, at one time, using one scale price.

"Farmer Group has helped us. That is why we need to expand this group so many people will know the benefit," he said.

Bina Mandiri farmer group in Tuabatan, North Central Timor takes part in the joint marketing program.

The members of this group have successfully managed the marketing of tamarind- the main commodity in this village. The program successfully increased the price of tamarind 5%.

However, there were obstacles to joint marketing. There are many potential buyers who try to buy the tamarind for a high price from only a few members.

Yosep Loin joined the joint marketing program with Bina Mandiri farmer group.

"Farmer group has helped us. That is why we need to expand this group so many people will feel the benefit," he said.

Like Yosep Loin, the other members have the same commitment to continue the joint marketing program so they can continue to sell their crops for the best price.

*Written by Yuventus Lasena, Development Facilitator, Wahana Visi Indonesia at North Central Timor operational office