Agricom.id, JAKARTA – The businessmen of swift’s nest could be happy. When China and many countries are hit by the pandemic of corona virus (Covid-19), the demands of the commodity increased.

Ministry of Agriculture through Badan Karantina Pertanian (Barantan) noted that the exports of livestock sub sector which were certified in the first quarter of 2020 increased significantly.

“Since the end of January, Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo instructed to prepare everything to maintain the exports of the agriculture, such as, change the export countries, besides China; correct the targets of gerakan tiga kali ekspor (Gratieks), and the relaxation of regulation," Head of Barantan, Ali Jamil, (8/4/2020) in Jakarta, as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

Every directorate of agriculture sub sector and supporting unit works arranged the strategic ways and anticipation to the Gratieks. “Alhamdulilah, we could maintain the works of some commodities, including the swift’s nest and it increased,” he said.

In the first quarter, the exports of swift’s nest were dominated by Hong Kong, reaching 208 tons, China reaching 50 tons, and Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States of America reaching 11 tons, 8 tons, and 4 tons for each.

Nationally, the exports of the product which is believed to be useful for the health in January reached 62,8 tons, February increased to be 89,7 tons and in March 2020 increased 126 tons.

Keeps Developing

Most of the regions in Indonesia now could produce the swift’s nest. The upstream to downstream industries keep developing. It needs continuous development too, both from the regional and central government. Ministry of agriculture itself has prepared the kredit usaha rakyat (KUR) so that the businessmen could advantage in the agriculture sectors.

From the export certification of swift’s nest in Barantan, in 2018 it was exported for about 1,12 thousand tons, increased in 2019 reaching 1,13 thousand tons within the average price about Rp 15 million to Rp 40 million per kilogram. It depends on the export countries and the quality.

As the quarantine authority to fulfill the health and security of the product, Barantan has prepared the testing devices, such as, the laboratory, and skillful human resources.

“This is our job though in the limited condition because of pandemic of Covid-19 like now, the test and certification services keep running. This is about to guarantee the product to be accepted in the goal countries and right on time. One thing for sure, it could multiply the exchange of our country,” Jamil said. (A2)