InfoSAWIT, KEPRI – Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Coordinator Minister in Economy, together with the ministers in economy released the agricultural product exports in Bintan Industrial Estate (BIE), Lobam, Kepulauan Riau, Saturday (26/09).

In his speech, Minister Airlangga hoped that the exports could be the reference to be replicated in other regions. “This is extraordinary and hope that it could be replicated in other regions because we have many islands,” he said.

The commodities which were exported were the processed products of coconut, such as, coconut milk to German for about 70 thousand kilograms and Rp1,6 billion; and coconut powder to India for about 108 thousand kilograms and Rp 1,2 billion.

He also mentioned that the products of coconut from Indonesia could be the mainstay. One product could increase the body immunity. “Mister Syahrul said that VCO (virgin coconut oil) could increase the immunity of our body. In this pandemic, it is increasing (to export),” he said, as in the official statement to Agricom.id. 

Besides the coconut derivative products, the other exports were charcoal to Malaysia for about 7 thousand kilograms and Rp 49 million; rubber to China, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Japan, Turkey, and the United States of America for about 2 million kilograms and Rp 35,27 billion; and pork cutlet to Singapore for about 915 porks and Rp 3,3 billion.

In the same chance, Minister Syahrul told that ministry of agriculture has strategic program called, Gerakan Tiga Kali Ekspor (Gratieks). Through the program it is hoped that the agriculture could help the economic progress.

“In the next five years we hope that the agricultural exports would be increasing and we could realize it. Based on our data, 544 districts/cities are identified to do exports potentially,” he said.

He did hope that the agricultural exports could be better if other institutions are in synergy with (ministry of agriculture). It is hoped that the agriculture would help the economy nationally.

In January to August 2020, he mentioned that the agriculture increased the exports for about 8,82 percent, reached Rp 258 billion. The numbers were from the new mainstay commodities.

"Porang, swift nest, ketapang leaves, black anthill, white anthill are the new product exports in agriculture and increased the exports,” he said.

He also mentioned that in ministry of agriculture, there is badan karantina pertanian as the strategic institution to do the responsible agricultural exports to get quarantine certificate, sanitary and phyto-sanitary certificate for the agricultural products.

“Our agriculture quarantine is in online system. We also make sure, there would be no problem. In every Friday, we do control. The quarantine is like the consultant. If someone faces issue to do export, he could do consultation with the officers,” he said.

In the chance, he also hoped the cooperation with the coordinator ministry in economy to provide one million coconut trees.

“If you allow, Sir, I would like to develop one million coconut trees. We know the coconut tree. From its root to the leaves, they could give exchange to our country. By developing one million coconut trees within genjah coconut cluster, we could get 150 fruit in every year,” Syahrul said.

Besides Airlangga and Syahrul, Minister of Cooperation and Small and Middle Business, Teten Masduki; Minister of Trade, Agus Suparmanto; and Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita attended the export release. (T2)