The export value of swiftlet nests recorded by South Kalimantan increased significantly after exports could be carried out directly from South Kalimantan. As of June 2022, South Kalimantan has recorded exports of these commodities worth Rp 5.19 billion to a number of countries. Head of Banjarmasin Class I Agricultural Quarantine Center Nur Hartanto said data from the IQFast quarantine automation system (Indonesian Quarantine Full Automation System) showed a significant increase in the export of swallow nests in South Kalimantan. Until early June 2022, the export of swiftlet nests was 321 kilograms (kg) with a value of Rp 5.19 billion. In the same period in 2021, the export of swiftlet nests was recorded at only 11 kg with a value of Rp. 181 million. This significant increase in export volume and value occurred because the export of swallow nests from South Kalimantan no longer had to go through other areas. "We continue to provide support and appreciation to exporters and prospective exporters through technical guidance and convenience in managing quarantine documents," Hartanto said in Banjarmasin, Wednesday (8/6/2022).

The day before, the Banjarmasin Agricultural Quarantine Center again released the export of 50 kg of swallow nests belonging to PT Agrika Gatya Arum in the yard of the Banjarmasin Agricultural Quarantine office in the working area of Syamsudin Noor Airport, Banjarbaru. Swallow's nest commodity worth Rp. 787.5 million was released from South Kalimantan to Hong Kong. According to Hartanto, the exported swiftlet nests are swiftlet nests originating from swallow houses in South Kalimantan. Officials from the Banjarmasin Agricultural Quarantine have carried out a series of quarantine measures to ensure that the exported swiftlet nests have met international technical requirements and protocols of the destination country. “Currently, South Kalimantan has 155 swallow houses that have been registered with the Agricultural Quarantine Agency. Swallow's nests that are exported from South Kalimantan come from the swallow's houses," he said. He also said that the requirements for the export of swallow's nests are generally very easy. Swallow's nests that want to be exported must be clean, there are no swallow feathers or other debris attached.

The Board of Directors of PT Agrika Gatya Arum (AGA) Hery Gema thanked the Banjarmasin Agricultural Quarantine Center for assisting and playing an important role in guiding, monitoring, and evaluating PT AGA's swallow nest processing series in Banjarmasin. Hery guarantees that the quality of the swallow's nests it produces is suitable and safe for consumption and meets the requirements of the destination country. "We hope to continue to increase the volume of exports and can also add to the export destination countries," he said. Hartanto added that swallow's nest is a food ingredient which is one of the leading export commodities from South Kalimantan. There are many benefits of swallow's nest for health and beauty so that the demand for swallow's nest continues to increase, especially from Hong Kong and China. Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Bambang said, swallow's nest is one of the export commodities that has a high selling value. In addition, it is also one of the national strategic export commodities that has increased demand every year from a number of export destination countries. Nationally, the Agricultural Quarantine Agency noted that the export of swallow's nests in 2020-2021 showed a positive trend. The export volume of swiftlet nests in 2021 will increase by 14 percent compared to the export volume in 2020. "Indonesia is the largest swallow's nest producer in the world, which supplies more than 78 percent of the world's market needs," he said.

Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Bambang said, swallow's nest is one of the export commodities that has a high selling value. In addition, it is also one of the national strategic export commodities that has increased demand every year from a number of export destination countries. Nationally, the Agricultural Quarantine Agency noted that the export of swallow's nests in 2020-2021 showed a positive trend. The export volume of swiftlet nests in 2021 will increase by 14 percent compared to the export volume in 2020. "Indonesia is the largest swallow's nest producer in the world, which supplies more than 78 percent of the world's market needs," he said. Head of the South Kalimantan Provincial Trade Office, Birhasani said, gelinggang leaves, also known as senna leaves (Cassia alata) have been exported from South Kalimantan to Japan since 2005. However, at that time the export volume was still small, which was only about half a container or less than 10 tons for once delivery. Gelinggang leaf exports only started to increase and run normally in 2013. Since then, exporters from South Kalimantan have been able to export 1-2 containers for one shipment with a volume of 16-26 tons. The export of gelinggang leaves is carried out regularly every month or every two months. "The contribution of gellinggang leaves to South Kalimantan's exports is still very small, less than 1 percent of the total export value of South Kalimantan. That's because its market share is still limited, namely only to Japan," said Birhasani.

Source: https://www.kompas.id/baca/nusantara/2022/06/08/ekspor-sarang-bird-walet-dari-kalsel-naik-significan