Agricom.id, BANTEN - Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) symbolically released 4000 tons exports of derivative products of corn and wheat of Banten for about Rp 16,2 billion to China and Philippine. He also encouraged to expand the derivative products of the two to other countries.

“Today we release the agriculture commodities to export from PT. Bungasari. I think, this is one activity to accelerate the exports of Indonesia better,” he said in the visit to wheat factory of PT. Bunga Flour Mills Indonesia in Krakatau Bandar Samudera Port, Tegal Ratu, Ciwadan, Cilegon, Banten, Saturday (18/07/20), as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

He also mentioned that based on central bureau of statistic (CBS), the exports of Indonesia in June 2020 reached USD 12,03 billion. The numbers increased 15,09 percent compared to May 2020 which reached US$ 10,53 billion.

"It means that the agriculture has its acceleration. We keep encouraging and optimizing to help our country,” he said.

He also mentioned that his side does the best to increase the domestic production and the exports. But if it needs to import, he targeted, we should re-export in the form of products to have increasing values.

Head of Badan Karantina Pertanian (Barantan), Ministry of Agriculture, Ali Jamil said that his side facilitated the exports (derivative products of corn and wheat) of Banten up to 4.000 tons cumulatively or about Rp 16,2 billion. They consist of starch flour, corn gluten, corn powder, and bran as the wastes of the production.

“We did service fast and guarantee the acceptability of the agriculture products in the other countries and Barantan focuses to increase the export,” he said.

He also mentioned that 204 tons wheat bran were exported to Philippine and 656 tons wheat bran to China within the total reaching 860 tons in 8 containers for about Rp 3,4 billion.

Head of Balai Karantina Pertanian, Class II Cilegon, Arum Kusnila Dewi noted that the exports significantly increased in the first semester and in the midst of July 2020, reaching Rp 118,8 billion or increased 16 times more than those in the same period last year which reached Rp 6,8 billion only.

Just like the strategic program in Ministry of Agriculture, triple export of agriculture products, the Karantina Pertanian Cilegon keeps making technical development to fulfill the sanitary and phyto-sanitary measure to the candidates of exporters, micro and small business, and also the farmers.

“We would facilitate the companies and the farmers to export so that the mainstay products of Banten could be exported,” she said.

Based on the Indonesian Quarantine Full Automatic System (IQFAST) the agricultural export facility through Karantina Pertanian Cilegon in the first semester 2020 positively increased. The products are wheat bran, palm oil, bleaching earth, and rubber slabs.

In the same period – January to July, the wheat bran increased 369 %, crude palm oil increased 214%, bleaching earth increased 133%, and rubber slabs which started to export increased 2.178 tons.

She also mentioned that not only the export volumes were positive, but Karantina Pertanian Cilegon successfully increased the new products to export, such as, industrial flour, processed wood, pallet wood, dragon fruit, palm oil shell, petai, cayenne pepper, curly chili, and plantations.

“Having good cooperation, it is hoped that they could be primadona of new exports from Banten,” she said.

Synergy to Increase the Export

Ali Jamil said that ministry of agriculture has the map application to know the agriculture product export potential or IMACE (Indonesian Map of Agriculture Commodities Export). He encouraged his officers whole over the region to be in synergy with the regional governments, the businessmen, and the farmers to make the agricultural regions within the local wisdom and export oriented.

"IMACE consists of real time information about the commodity centers, the export countries, and the numbers. This could be used to increase the potential and chance to export,” he said.

From the easy access of service and innovation, everything would end to guarantee the natural conservation, keep the products safe, control the food quality, and woof from the agriculture products both in export and import, and also inter-region.

“Namely in the export, not only fast, but this would ensure that the agriculture products (to export and import) have fulfilled the sanitary and phyto-sanitary conditions that other countries would accept,” he said. (A2)