Vanilla and derivative products originating from North Sumatra have begun to attract exporters because they have the quality that is able to compete in the world market. As stated by Hendi Situmorang, Representative of PT Sumber Bukit Jaya. This company is one of the largest vanilla exporters in North Sumatra. According to him, vanilla is a high-value agricultural commodity. "From the shipping side, we have to use air transportation, it can't be compared to other commodities sent by sea," he said, Tuesday (28/12).
So far, he said, Vanilla from North Sumatra has attracted the interest of many countries in Europe and Asia which later became export destinations. Vanilla products sent are dried fruit (Vanilla Bean) or have become powder (Vanilla Powder). In each country, Vanilla products from North Sumatra are used for various purposes. Among them as food flavorings, fragrances, cosmetics, and many other uses.
From farmers, the company buys vanilla at a price of Rp. 200-300 thousand per kg, depending on the quality. Currently, North Sumatra has started to have several vanilla centers and the largest is in Karo Regency. Followed by areas around Lake Toba, then Deliserdang and Langkat. Apart from being the main center, the quality of vanilla from Tanah Karo is also relatively better than other areas in North Sumatra. Even the quality of the Vanilla from Tanah Karo is also the best in Indonesia. He noted, North Sumatra has been able to produce 10 tons of vanilla every month, of which a quarter comes from Perbesi Village in Tigabinanga District, Karo Regency.
Perbesi is the center of Vanilla in Karo because it has relatively many farmers and is serious about cultivating this plant. Nevertheless, he admits that the quality of Vanilla from Perbesi still needs improvement when referring to world market standards. Physically, the size of the fruit still needs to be increased and the level of maturity also still needs to be paid more attention to when harvesting. Efforts to enlarge Vanilla according to him can actually be done easily.
One way is to reduce the number of fruit in each bunch and reduce the number of bunches from each tree. Fruit production will also be much better if maintenance activities are carried out regularly, even at regular hours. If these things are done, then the farmer will get 1 kg of Vanilla with only 25-30 pieces, different from the current one which requires up to 70 pieces.
He further stated that, following the Gratieks policy launched by the Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, his party is also targeting an increase in export volumes by three times by 2022. He is even optimistic that the export volume of Vanilla from North Sumatra can increase by five times. One of the reasons is because the production of Vanilla fruit will increase fivefold every year on the same plant. In other words, the older the vanilla plant, the higher its production capacity will be.
"It's just how farmers can pay more attention to the quality of the fruit," he said. That's why he said his company really appreciates the support given by the Medan Class II Agricultural Quarantine Center. Such as by providing technical guidance (bimtek) to Vanilla farmers in Perbesi Village on Monday (27/12). He hopes that the Medan Agricultural Quarantine will continue this technical guidance program to other vanilla-producing areas in North Sumatra and Karo Regency in particular. Apart from technical requirements for export qualifications, he also asked the Medan Agricultural Quarantine to guide farmers to deal with fungi. “So far, fungal attacks have been the main cause of the decline in the quality of vanilla fruit. Until now there is no way out," said Hendi.
He said that currently, the reference for vanilla quality in the world market is a commodity from Madagascar. Therefore, he also hopes that the Medan Agricultural Quarantine will help disseminate information to various parties at home and abroad that Vanilla from North Sumatra is as good as commodities from Madagascar.
Source: https://kliksumut.com/vanili-mulai-jadi-primadona-ekspor-sumut/
