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Challenges of Local Clove Farmers: Strategies to Survive Amid Commodity Price Fluctuations

IT DMK Cargo
2 days ago
2 min read

Behind the fragrant aroma of cloves often found in the kitchen or traditional Indonesian kretek cigarettes lies a long story of farmers’ struggles. Those who rely on their harvests every day must face the reality that clove prices in the market often fluctuate. Sometimes high, sometimes drastically low. Everything depends on industrial demand and global conditions.

Rising and Falling Prices

Cloves are among the commodities with highly sensitive prices. When the cigarette industry needs more stock, prices can soar. But when demand drops, farmers feel the impact too.

Many small farmers admit that sometimes the harvest is not enough to cover the cost of maintaining their plantations. Even so, they persist because growing cloves has become part of life and a tradition passed down through generations.

Unfortunately, this situation also makes the younger generation in villages reluctant to continue their parents’ work. They see clove farming as a risky job that does not always guarantee a steady income.

Challenges in the Field

Apart from prices, farmers also face other challenges such as extreme weather, pest attacks, and limited access to capital and technology. Many still dry their cloves traditionally under the sun. When the weather is unfavorable, the quality of the cloves can decrease, and the selling price will drop as well. This situation forces farmers to find new ways to survive.

Survival and Adaptation Strategies

Fortunately, many farmers are now starting to adapt. They form farmer groups or cooperatives to reduce costs and get fairer selling prices.

Some have also begun trying intercropping systems with nutmeg, coconut, or vanilla to earn additional income besides cloves.

Several young farmers have even started using digital platforms to sell their harvests directly to buyers. This way, they can cut distribution chains and earn higher profits.

Hope for the Future

The journey toward stability is indeed long, but the small steps farmers take today are paving the way forward. With the support of technology, partnerships, and public awareness to appreciate local products more, clove farmers have great potential to grow further.

Support Farmers, Enjoy the True Quality of the Archipelago

Every fragrant clove holds the hard work and dedication of farmers across Indonesia. By choosing local products, you are helping them stay empowered amid unpredictable market prices.

Take your small step today, support local farmers, and enjoy the authentic taste of the Indonesian archipelago.