POTENSI DAN TANTANGAN PENGEMBANGAN USAHA SAYURAN DATARAN RENDAH DALAM MENDUKUNG INDUSTRI PENGOLAHAN

Abstract

Nganjuk Regency has significant agricultural potential, particularly in lowland vegetable cultivation, which can serve as a key raw material supplier for the food processing industry. This study aims to analyze the potential and challenges of developing lowland vegetable enterprises in supporting the processing industry in Nganjuk Regency. A qualitative descriptive method was employed using secondary data obtained from official documents and relevant publications, including reports from the Central Bureau of Statistics of Nganjuk Regency, horticultural statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, business feasibility literature, and industrial regulations. Data were analyzed through information grouping according to market, technical, and managerial aspects, followed by descriptive analysis and literature triangulation to ensure consistency. The findings indicate that Nganjuk possesses substantial potential for developing lowland vegetable enterprises, supported by favorable geographical conditions, experienced farmers, short harvest cycles, available land for expansion, and supportive government policies. However, several challenges must be addressed, including weather dependency, limited post-harvest storage facilities, poor access to modern agricultural technology, inadequate cold chain infrastructure, difficulties in meeting industry quality standards, low financial record-keeping, lack of systematic production planning, weak marketing and negotiation skills, ineffective farmer group institutions, and limited access to formal capital. The study concludes that with integrated strategies such as weather information systems, collective post-harvest facilities, managerial capacity building, institutional strengthening, and mutually beneficial partnership models between farmers and processing industries, lowland vegetable enterprises in Nganjuk are feasible to develop and can significantly contribute to the regional economy