Agricom.id, CAKUNG – The coconut fiber exports from Indonesia are prospective to increase. This is the same with the increasing demands of the derivative product of coconut in the global markets as the material for the industries.

Ministry of Agriculture through Badan Karantina Pertanian did certify 100 tons of coconut fiber from West Java to China. The exports from the farmers in Districts of Tasikmalaya, Ciamis, and Pangandaran reached Rp 396 million.

Head of Karantina Pertanian Tanjung Priok, Purwo Widiarto did hand over the Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) as the protocol condition to the goal countries. He directly gave it to PT. Nusantara Sukses Sentosa di Depo DNS Cakung, Jakarta Utara (28/4/2020), as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

It still noticed the prevention protocol of corona virus (Covid-19) spread. He also explained that from the data in January – April 2020, the coconut fiber exports reached 1,5 thousand tons or about Rp 8 billion and China was the number one importer. The other countries were Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and German. “In the last four months, the coconut fiber exports showed the increasing ones in every month. This changes the stigma saying that the fiber which was only the waste could contribute to the exchange of this country,” he said.

Stanley Aliwarga, one who got authority from PT. Nusantara Sukses Sentosa mentioned that the coconut fiber, though it is one kind of waste, could be advantaged or used to be many things, such as, the media to plant, like it happens in Korea and Japan.

In German, some automotive companies use coconut fiber as one material to the seat of cars. It is used as the basic material of handy crafts, fuel, organic fertilizer, and as the component to filter the water. “Since the early of this year, based on the demands from China, we have exported coconut fiber certified by Karantina Pertanian Tanjung Priok reaching 304 tons, or about Rp 1,2 billion,” he said.

Based on the data in karantina pertanian in 2019, the highest coconut fiber exports were to China, within the volume 5,4 thousand tons and 100 times exports; Japan reaching 16 times exports and about 972 tons; South Korea reaching 419 tons and 29 times exports; Thailand reaching 164 tons and twice exports; North Korea reaching 18 tons and one export; Sri Lanka within twice exports and 6 tons; South Africa reaching 2 tons and German reaching 0,25 kilogram and one export for each.

In the other spot, Head of Badan Karantina Pertanian, Ali Jamil told that though the pandemic of corona virus (Covid-19) hits, the agriculture activity could not stop. This is the same with what Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo said to support the economy. “In the slowing down economy, alhamdulilah, this does not stop the agriculture to produce. One of it is the coconut fiber. This is the same with the high demands of the product in the Covid-19 pandemic,” Jamil said.

He also mentioned that his side would always guarantee the agriculture commodity to be health and safe, and also give the export facility services to fulfill the demands in the export though it is the pandemic. “We are ready to monitor so that the products run well, healthy, safe, and competitive. In the reverse, the agriculture products which come to our country should be healthy and safe to consume,” he said. (A2)