The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Aglaonema farming income: a comparison between the height and the post trend

Abstract

The expansion of the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2021 has weakened the performance of critical industries in Indonesia. Aglaonema as one of the ornamental plants had a surge in demand as part of the farming industry until its height in 2020. Currently, the response to the demand for ornamental plants has declined considerably. This study discussed the revenue and income of Aglaonema farming during two periods, at height and the post of the COVID-19 pandemic, and analyzed the distribution of inputs data as information related to the allocation of production. The respondents comprised 32 active farmers from the Aglaonema community (ASA) in Depok City, who produced 10 varieties of premium Aglaonema, namely Super Pink, Suksom Jaipong, Khanza, Lotus Delight, Audrey, Tiara, Widuri, Adelia, Bidadari, and Pride of Sumatra. The data was collected from June to November 2022 using the recall method to tabulate data in 2020 (the year of the height of COVID-19 pandemic) and 2022 (the year of the post COVID-19 pandemic). The R/C ratio was used as a profit indicator by considering the implicit and explicit costs. The findings revealed that Aglaonema farming in Depok City was highly profitable at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, evidenced by an R/C ratio of 7.50. The R/C ratio has changed in 2022 value to 1.79, indicating a decline in farming profitability. Suppose the farmers pay the implicit costs in the current situation, the farming becomes less profitable as shown by the return value which is just slightly above the break-even point.

The competitive and comparative advantages of aglaonema farming in Depok City, Indonesia

“…The study was conducted in Depok City, one of Indonesia's ornamental plant centers. Suksom Jaipong, the most favorable variety according to Haryanto et al, (2023), was selected as the locus of the research. Most of the aglaonema farmers in this city are members of exclusive aglaonema cultivators which currently reach 52 people, all of them were visited and 32 farmers agreed to participate in the research.…”

“…This is because internal labor accounts for more than half of the labor costs (77.36%). In addition, internal laborers were quite competent in plant care, besides the planting hobby they grow instantly (Haryanto et al, 2023). Because internal labor is free of charge, the profitability of farming income remains mutual.…”

“…However, the favorable values of aglaonema producers are competitive in the ornamental plant market. Competition between domestic and imported production variables has forced farmers to maximize the use of local resources (Haryanto et al, 2023;Pradas et al, 2023).…”

“…Changes in production during the height and the post of the COVID-19 outbreak have been investigated. Farmers were having a hard time selling 2.78 less than that during the phase of the ornamental trend, though the costs could be saved by 2 times less (Haryanto et al, 2023). Tab.…”