PORTALJABAR, GARUT REGENCY - The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) evaluated the implementation of the UPLAND Program in Garut Regency, which was deemed successful in developing potato commodities.

The evaluation was carried out through a visit to the Project Completion Review (PCR) Mission of the UPLAND Project for the 2026 Fiscal Year which was received directly by the Regent of Garut, Abdusy Syakur Amin, in the Pamengkang Room, Garut City District, Friday (17/7/2026).

Also present at the event were the Representative of the Director General of Financing and Risk Management of the Ministry of Finance, Purnoto, the Representative of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Tiara, and the Representative of the Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rina Suprihati.

The visit was to assess the level of success and discuss the sustainability of the UPLAND Program that has been implemented in Garut Regency, particularly in the development of potato commodities.

The UPLAND Program is an integrated agricultural development program in the highlands initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture to increase farmer productivity, income, and welfare. The program encompasses upstream and downstream support, from agricultural infrastructure development and the provision of agricultural tools and machinery (alsintan), to strengthening market access, including export markets.

Garut Regent Abdusy Syakur Amin expressed his appreciation for the central government's trust in Garut as one of the evaluation locations for the program. He stated that potatoes play a strategic role in supporting national food security.

"It should be noted that potatoes are a strategic commodity, and our President frequently mentions them in relation to food. Thankfully, we have received information that Garut Regency contributes approximately 80 percent of the West Java quota," said the Garut Regent.

He hopes that the UPLAND Program implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture together with IFAD can continue to provide benefits for improving farmer welfare and developing the agricultural sector in Garut Regency.

Meanwhile, IFAD Indonesia Country Director, Hani Elsadani, explained that the UPLAND Program, which began in 2019, has shown excellent progress since 2022. Of the 14 implementing districts in Indonesia, Garut Regency was deemed to have achieved excellent results, earning it a second phase regional grant extension for the 2025–2026 period.

"One of them is infrastructure, because we want to develop agriculture. We need to see what can be developed, what its potential is. And if it becomes a successful sub-capital, it can be recovered or taken over by the government for scaling up to make it more sustainable," Hani said.

Muhammad Ikhwan, Manager of the UPLAND Project Management Unit (PMU), echoed this sentiment. He explained that Garut Regency was chosen as the evaluation location because it was deemed representative of the success of the UPLAND Program's objectives.

"Why Garut? Because it's considered the most representative of the program's success in achieving its objectives. Furthermore, Garut received the complete package from this project. Not all 14 regencies received the full package, sir," he said.

The Head of the Garut Regency Agriculture Office, Ardhy Firdian, added that the UPLAND Program has driven a shift in farming patterns from individual farming to institutionalized farming through cooperatives. Furthermore, the use of agricultural technology has increased, impacting potato productivity.

"Previously, farmers, especially those involved in potato farming, mostly worked individually. With the UPLAND project, all participating farmers are automatically incorporated into a cooperative," Ardhy explained.

He added that increasing the use of agricultural technology is one of the factors supporting increased productivity and sustainability of farming businesses in Garut Regency.

(Garut Communications and Information Service/rka)