Cucumbers were the largest seasonal fruit and vegetable crop in North Kalimantan in 2020.

Vegetables and fruits offer countless benefits for the human body, such as boosting immunity, preventing obesity, cancer, and hypertension, improving digestive health, and more. The importance of consuming vegetables and fruits must be accompanied by sufficient and varied availability in the region.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recorded that the largest production of seasonal vegetables and fruits in North Kalimantan (Kaltara) was cucumbers. Production reached 5,124 tons in 2020. This figure decreased by 5.22% compared to the previous year, which was 5,406 tons.

Besides cucumbers, Kaltara also produces a large amount of water spinach. In 2020, production amounted to 4,972 tons, down 3.88% from the previous year's 5,173 tons. Then, the production of Chinese cabbage in Kaltara was 3,857 tons, down 18.39% from the previous year's production of 4,726 tons.

Meanwhile, the lowest production of seasonal vegetables and fruits was cantaloupe and cabbage, at only 1 ton each. Cabbage production experienced a very high decrease of 95% from the previous year's 20 tons. Shallot production in Kaltara amounted to 90 tons, down 35.25% compared to the previous year's 139 tons.

The harvested area for water spinach, chili peppers, spinach, and Chinese cabbage was the largest, with harvested areas of 544 ha, 511 ha, 460 ha, and 457 ha, respectively. Of these commodities, there was an increase in the harvested area of Chinese cabbage by 3.7%. Meanwhile, water spinach and chili peppers experienced a decrease in harvested land of 0.36% and 4.8%, respectively.

(Read More: West Java Became the Largest Strawberry Production Center in 2020)