Salak is a typical fruit of Sleman and has become one of the icons of the Sleman district. Salak productivity in Sleman Regency is very large. Every year, Sleman can produce around 2,040 to 2,880 tons of salak per year. Salak export needs alone reach around 1000 to 2000 tons per year. In this regard, the Deputy Regent of Sleman Danang Maharsa is optimistic that in 2022, Sleman Regency can maximize salak exports. "We are optimistic that in 2022 our salak exports will increase. Support from the local government will continue to be carried out," Danang said when interviewed in his office, Tuesday, January 4, 2022. According to Danang, the Sleman Regency Government will continue to socialize and communicate with farmer groups. The reason is that there are still many groups of salak farmers who have not been accommodated in this export activity. "We will also push to simplify the bureaucratic registration process because it is also an obstacle for our group of salak farmers not being accommodated," said Danang.
Danang explained that the current condition of the salak plantation area in Sleman Regency is 3,000 hectares or about 6,000,000 clumps spread over Kapanewon Turi, Tempel, and Pakem. The salak plants have produced around 3,000,000-4,000,000 clumps or an area of 1,500-2,000 ha. By 2021, Sleman salak has exported 160 tons of salak to Cambodia. Exports in 2021 will decline due to the covid-19 pandemic so that export shipments are only carried out by ship. Danang assessed that apart from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were several other problems, namely the lack of communication between exporters and GAP (Good Agriculture Practices) integrated farmer groups. In addition, other problems, the decrease in productivity of salak per clump at the farmer level is due to lack of maintenance, irrigation and fertilization, and some salak is not productive because it is old or more than 20 years old. Danang added that the Sleman Regency Government will continue to make efforts to carry out the salak tree maturation program. "Our salak trees are very old, they are more than 20 years old, in 2022 a parent tree grafting program will be carried out so that it is hoped that it will increase productivity and improve the quality of salak in Sleman Regency," he added.
