Picture 1: (from left to right) Denny Indra Simson Simangunsong STP, Bharaty, Dr. Sabam Malau, Kra Johnny Sitohang Adinagoro, Ir. Agus Bukka, Bintoha Angkat SP, Ir. Relly Tarigan. Photo taken in the regent office.
Sidkalang is the capital city of Dairi Regency of North Sumatera of Indonesia. Kra Johnny Sitohang Adinagoro is the Regent (head) of Dairi Regency, while Dr. Sabam Malau is Chairman of NSCF-North Sumatra Coffee Forum. Ms. Bharaty and Denny Indra Simson Simangunsong STP were also attending the meeting. Ms. Bharaty is the RACA Coordinator USAID AMARTA, while Denny was the RACA manager in Karo Regency. Ms. Bharaty explained the goal and activities of RACA. In AMARTA Project, one of the pillars is to help improve supporting public infrastructure as well as policy and regulation by promoting Public-Policy Dialogue on policy-regulatory issues through the Regional Agribusiness Competitiveness Alliance (RACA) activity. RACA had activities in Regencies Pakpak Bharat, Deli Serdang, Simalungun, Karo. Denny Indra Simson Simangunsong informed that AMARTA had trained staffs of Agricultural Extension Body of Dairi Government concerning Citrus.
Picture 2: (from left to right) Denny Indra Simson Simangunsong STP, Bharaty, Kra Johnny Sitohang Adinagoro, Dr. Sabam Malau, Ir. Agus Bukka, Bintoha Angkat SP, Ir. Relly Tarigan. Photo taken in the lobby of Regent Office. See also the arabica coffee plant in the middle.
Just before the interview, Sabam Malau described the goals and acitivites of NSCF-North Sumatra Coffee Forum. The followings are some of the interview results.
Sabam Malau: Would you please tell us your vision and mission?
Kra Johnny Sitohang Adinagoro: Our motto is “We work for people”, “We are on the people’s side”.
Sabam Malau: Can you explain your coffee program?
Kra Johnny Sitohang Adinagoro: Dairi is one of the largest coffee producers in North Sumatra. The coffee farmers are poor. We try to develop coffee by granting seedlings and facilitating loans from Sumut Bank.
Sabam Malau: What is about the name of Dairi Coffee?
Kra Johnny Sitohang Adinagoro: Dairi Coffee or Sidikalang Coffee is already very famous. We don’t need promotions and advertisements anymore. Unfortunately, coffee traders buy coffee from Dairi, but they sell it with name “Lintong Coffee” in international market. We produce coffee, but Lintong gets famous name, and that is unfair. Lintong area produces only an insignificant amount of coffee bean.
Sabam Malau: You say just now that Dairi Coffee needs no promotions and advertisements anymore because it is already famous. Excuse me Sir, in this case I don’t agree with you. Even the world famous Starbucks and J. CO still do promotions and advertisements for their coffee eventhough they already have very solid and famous brand. Sir, the more buyer come to Dairi, the more competitive price will be, and the higher price can then be created on coffee growers level.
Sabam Malau: In term of economy value, coffee is the most important commodity of Dairi, and it’s an ironic one that you don’t put coffee as the primary priority in your program. Could you tell us why?
Kra Johnny Sitohang Adinagoro: All commodities can grow on Dairi land, and only a part of the farmers are coffee farmers. So, I don’t put anyone of the commodities as a primary priority. I mean, all commodities are the same with no priority among them.
Sabam Malau: I’d like to ask you more detais if you don’t mind.
Kra Johnny Sitohang Adinagoro: For such questions, you’d better like to ask the Head of Forestry and Estate Department.
Note: The result of the interview to the Head of Forestry and Estate Department for detailed and technical information about coffee can be read on the page Dairi Coffee Profile.
Dr. Sabam Malau
NSCF Chairman