Sibang Champak, a Commodity that has not been Optimally Exploited

Sibang Champaca, a Commodity that has not been Optimally Exploited

By I Made Sukewijaya

If we survey the road landscape in Bali, Indonesia using champaca plants as their crops is a usual thing. However, we are also familiar with the presence of champaca plants that have been habitually cultivated for harvesting flowers. The specificity of the shape and aroma of the flowers is also a characteristic that is easily noticed by the people. These are the two villages that produce champaca flower centers, Sibang Gede and Sibang Kaja in Badung Regency.

Champaca plants (flowers) in Badung Regency, especially in the villages of Sibang Kaja and Sibang Gede in the Abiansemal Subdistrict, Badung have long been as the basis of life for the people there. Champaca flowers are used as commodities which are traded so that they play a big enough role in supporting the family's economy. In fact, many people rely on champaca flowers as a reliable agricultural commodity for families in both villages. As a village producing champaca flowers for Badung and its surrounding areas, the names of Sibang Kaja and Sibang Gede villages have emerged as centers for producing champaca flowers.

Balinese people in general know that champaca flowers are only for ceremonial materials and as a means of other prayers. But on the other hand, if needed, the wood can also be used as building materials, especially for building shrines (temples or family temples). In addition to these needs, champaca flowers can actually also be used as industrial raw materials, for example as essential oils.

As a commodity-producing area, it turns out that almost all regions of the two villages are planted with champaca plants. There is no yard that is not planted with champaca plants. The total area of ​​champaca farming in there villages were as large as the plot of land owned by 24.18% of the total area. This is due to the fact that almost all of the champaca farming land is in the home yard. Communities in these two villages rarely plant champaca plants as a commodity planted by monocultures in large areas. The number of champaca plants owned by each head of family in the two villages is around 2-3 plants. Overall, based on data reported by agricultural extension center (BPP) officers in the Sibang Gede there are around 1800 trees, while there are 1219 at Sibang Kaja Villages.

In agro-climate, the spread of champaca plants can grow from the lowlands to the highlands. Sibang Kaja and Sibang Gede villages have a height of 70 - 75 m above sea level. Champaca plants in both villages show that the plants can flower throughout the year regardless of the season. Variety of champaca commonly cultivated in both regions is yellow champaca and white champaca. Information obtained in the field shows that the white champaca plant shows that it is more attentive in flowering than the yellow one.

Champaca flower picking period can be done every day, starts picking even at dawn until more or less before noon. Plants planted from graft propagation have started flowering at the age of 3-4 years with a lot of flower yields. The yield of interest obtained around 300-400 florets per day. At harvest time, it can produce 500 to 600 buds. The next day produces 300 to 400 buds in a row for 2 days, then after that it will produce 500 to 600 buds, and so on periodically.

A place to sell in the form of fresh flowers for ceremonial purposes, hotels, salons, etc. The community prioritizes collecting traders in the village. In addition to the traders who come to the community of flower owners, traders also await the arrival of the flower owners / sellers. During this time, the agreed selling units between sellers and buyers (traders) are 50 flower buds. The most conspicuous determination of prices by consumers through collectors is determined by the existence of a variation (Hindu holy day). Yellow champaca species always have a relatively higher price than white ones. The marketing of champaca sibang flowers reached other regencies in Bali such as Tabanan, Gianyar, and Bangli.

Farming costs for champaca cultivation was very low. So far, the community has not carried out intensive maintenance of champaca plants like other agricultural crops. Champaca cultivation in the villages of Sibang Gede and Sibang Kaja is generally only a side job and the expenditure of champaca farming cannot be specified precisely. If illustrated, the cultivation of Champaca plants is assumed to require the expenditure of seedlings to purchase an average of Rp 600,000 for two grafted seedlings and champaca flowering trees for 10 years, the expenditure for seedlings is Rp 5,000 per month or Rp 166.67 per day. Based on the sales of champaca flowers amounting to Rp 24,167 per day or Rp 725,000 per month, the household income from champaca farming is Rp 24,000 per day or Rp 720,000 per month. The average household income in the villages of Sibang Gede and Sibang Kaja is Rp 3,353,333 per month, which is sourced from: rice farming by Rp 1,500,000; dry field farming of Rp. 83,333; livestock Rp 125,000; non-farming Rp. 925,000; and champaca flowers Rp. 720,000. It appears in the structure of household income that income from champaca interest contributes 21 percent of total household income.

Champaca farmers in the villages of Sibang Gede and Sibang Kaja already have an understanding of champaca cultivation for generations. They understand the cultivation of champaca from fellow farmers who own champaca. Not infrequently, the young generation in the village utilizes information technology to gain knowledge of Champaca cultivation, for example the internet media.

Regarding the cultivation of champaca, the community considers it easy because they do not carry out maintenance like the cultivation of other plants. Other socio-cultural aspects were found that the local community liked to do champaca cultivation because it was considered very simple. Champaca cultivation is considered very beneficial for the family and the environment because it is very helpful for family income. So far, the priority of using champaca flowers is to be sold, for ceremonial/offerings and to maintain the comfort of a place to live (yard environment). Even though champaca plants do not have to be planted in every house yard in the village and it is also not an "obligation" to plant champaca, but because almost all households have champaca plants in each yard, indicating that champaca cultivation has become a tradition and can also be used as a source of income additional for every family in the Sibang Gede and Sibang Kaja Villages.

The natural potential of agro-climate and the potential for diverse interest can be used as the initial position for the development of both the commodity development and the development of the region. There are also many other things that can be used as an effort to develop this potential to make fragrance more fragrant. The involvement of various stakeholders is awaited so that efforts to develop this potential can soon be realized. Some things that can be recommended so that the development of champaca can be sustained in the villages of Sibang Gede and Sibang Kaja are: (a) For future plant development, white champaca and yellow champaca that are of attention to the local community can be used as the basis for developing its culture; (b) It is necessary to acquire sufficient quantities and affordable prices; (c) The main use of champaca plants is the use of flowers for ceremonial purposes. For cultivation on a more intensive scale, in the future it is necessary to pursue various possibilities for other uses, such as processed champaca flower products into essential oils; (d) Breakthroughs need to be made for promotion and outreach that Sibang Gede Village and Sibang Kaja Abiansemal Badung Subdistrict are as centers of champaca in Badung; (e) The other side that emerges from the cultivation of champaca which needs special attention is the need to continue to be socialized about how to pick champaca flowers safely, since high trees are very risky for picker safety; (f) "One village one product" program and "Kampung Bunga Cempaka" which are strived for champaca plants in Sibang Gede and Sibang Kaja Villages that need to be followed up so that the champaca cultivation activities become the basis of community livelihoods in both villages that are sustainable; (g) Champaca cultivation activities can indirectly produce aromatic fragrance in the morning. As a result of this cultivation should be used by the local community to be a kind of activity "aroma-therapy tourism".

The author is a Lecturer in the Agroecotechnology Study Program of the Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University.