Agricom.id, Jakarta – When many sectors are hit by the corona virus, the food commodity, such as, horticulture gets the good news, the local fruit and vegetables drastically increased

In the export, though there were some issues in the distribution, the horticulture commodity demands in the international markets are good still.

It happens after General Directorate of Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture facilitated the exporters joining the international exhibition in Guangzhou and Shanghai (China), Dubai (UEA), Jeddah (Arab Saudi) and Berlin (German).

This is also the lead from Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) to boost the numbers and quality of local commodities to support Gerakan Tiga Kali Ekspor (Gratieks) of the agriculture products.

The exporters were facilitated by joining the international exhibition done in this country, such as, Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI). One young exporter is M. Riyansyah Putera or known as Rian.

The man of North Sumatera who now lives in Bali looked for the international chances to sell his products. Through the exhibition in Kazakhstan, Dubai and Berlin, the young man got billion dollar contracts.

“The exports keep running. Though there are issues like now, the corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic but in a whole, it runs well,” he said through his written info, Sunday (26/4/2020) to Agricom.id.

He also mentioned that his sides keeps doing exports to Russia, Japan, Maldive but in less quantity and volume compared to the normal situation because of the limited cargo.

“On Saturday (18/4) we exported 10 tons of lime orange to Maldives; on Monday (20/4) we exported 4 tons of frozen chili, 1 ton of jengkol; 500 kg of petai and 500 kg of galangal,” he explained.

He also mentioned that he got the export contract for some time to go and would accomplish the bargain. “For instance, today our company would export 1 ton of mangoesteen to Dubai,” he said.

In the time, he mentioned to be ready to help ministry of agriculture – in this case, General Directorate of Horticulture, so that the exporters would buy the chili from the central production areas where they are in harvest now.

“Next time we would buy 7 tons of chili from District of Brebes, Central Java and would export to Japan (frozen),” he said.

Director of Horticulture Marketing and Processing, Yasid Taufik did appreciate what Rian has done. The exporters, such as, Ria should be in synergy with the farmers.

“This is the positive one. They could help to buy the horticulture farmers’ production within the economic price so that our farmers have spirit to plant (again and again),” he said.

He did hope that the exporters could actively offer the horticulture products which are in harvest to the foreign buyers. “And our farmers’ production could be absorbed and have the good price,” he said. (A2)