Analisis Permasalahan Pemasaran Hasil Pertanian dan Potensi Pengolahan Produk Olahan di Desa Gung Pinto

Abstract

This study aims to identify the marketing problems faced by farmers in Gung Pinto Village, Karo Regency, when agricultural production reaches its peak, and to explore the potential of processing surplus produce into value-added products. A qualitative descriptive approach was used, with in-depth interviews conducted with three farmers selected purposively as key informants. The results show that production increases during the rainy season for coffee and during the dry season for highland vegetables and citrus, but marketing of the surplus is frequently constrained by simultaneous harvests across the region, price volatility, limited market access, the perishable nature of the commodities, and limited capital following the eruption of Mount Sinabung. Most farmers sell their harvest to collectors rather than directly to consumers, and digital marketing has not yet been widely adopted. Processing surplus potatoes into chips was found to raise the selling price several times over and to extend shelf life, although farmers still face constraints in capital, equipment, knowledge, and working time. The study concludes that strengthening post-harvest processing and marketing capacity is essential to stabilize farmers' income in Gung Pinto Village