Actors' Roles in Gambir Commodity Development in Pakpak Bharat, North Sumatra Province

Abstract

Gambir is one of the largest plantation commodities in Indonesia. Indonesia is one of the largest gambier exporting countries in the world. In 2018, Indonesia's gambier exports reached 18,000 tons with a value of US$ 50 million. As the most important exporting country, Indonesia controls more than 80 percent of the gambier market share in the world. One of the largest gambier producing areas in Indonesia is located in Pakpak Bharat Regency, North Sumatra Province. Pakpak Bharat Regency supplies 80% to 90% of the national gambier production. This study uses mixed methods research, which is a research approach that combines elements from qualitative and quantitative research methods in one study. This approach allows researchers to utilize the strengths of each method to gain a more complete and in-depth understanding of the phenomenon under study. The data used in this study are primary data and secondary data, primary data collected through interviews and secondary data collected from various sources including data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) at the District and Provincial levels. The results showed that farmers who depend on gambier cultivation and agro-industry have not obtained maximum results. recorded for the gambier agro-industry sector did not experience significant development, despite the trend of developing gambier as a superior commodity whose planting area and production are increasing and are predicted to continue to increase until 2016. In gambier development activities, there are several problems that often arise, namely related to the problems of capital, marketing, cultivation and processing.