Areca nut is a local commodity that is increasingly in demand by the global market. The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) has now determined the Pinang Betara Jambi seed as a national superior variety that is export-oriented, so that it can provide more benefits for planters, especially in Jambi Province. "The Jambi betel pinang variety was originally a local superior variety belonging to the Jambi Province, but now it has been determined by the Ministry of Agriculture as a national superior variety, so it is suitable for widespread use by the community for development, of course with the required GAP," said the Head of the Provincial Plantation Service. Jambi, Agus Rizal at a meeting of Farmer Capacity Building and Business Matching for Plantation Exporters in Jambi Province, Tuesday (28/6/2022). According to Agus, he and the Jambi Province Plantation Service will continue to encourage regional-specific commodities to be export-oriented, especially in development centers such as Tanjung Jabung Barat, Tanjung Jabung Timur, and other central districts. "What we will focus on is how to develop areca nut farmers and their export players so that they continue to have an impact on improving the economy of the Jambi province as a whole," he said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Processing and Marketing of Plantation Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Dedi Junaedi, said that in the last 2-3 years the Ministry of Agriculture through the Directorate General of Plantations is focusing on developing foreign exchange sources for exports from regional-specific plantation commodities such as areca nut which turns out to be very potential for export. To develop the plantation sector, according to Dedi, various efforts must be made from upstream to downstream, starting from providing superior seeds, production facilities, improving quality standardization, increasing market access and implementing GAP and GHP. "The main thing at this time is that we continue to encourage and facilitate the formation of sustainable marketing partnerships, especially in absorbing products at the planter level by business actors/offtakers," said Dedi. It was recorded that there were 2 (two) partnership agreements related to the development, management and trade of areca nut production in West Tanjab and East Tanjab Regencies which were successfully signed. "The first is among farmers who produce betel nut, Kab. Tanjab Barat with business actors UD. Blessings to the Brothers," said Dedi.
"The second is between farmers who produce betel nut, Kab. East Tanjab with PT. PEZ, Bettel Nut Company," added Dedi. Dedi said that apart from betel nut, Jambi Province is also a National Coffee Development Area, especially Kerinci Coffee. The international market is quite familiar with the taste and characteristics of Jambi Kerinci coffee which already has a Geographical Indication Certification. "Coffee export partnerships have also been successfully established, namely between Arabica coffee producers MPIG Koerintji and the Koerintji Barokah Cooperative, and partnerships will continue to be encouraged in a sustainable manner," explained Dedi. Currently, areca nut exports in 2021 increased by 4.9% in terms of volume and 39.3% in terms of value compared to 2020 (YoY). Likewise, Indonesian coffee in 2021 will increase by 0.9% in terms of volume and increase by 3.6% in terms of export value compared to 2021 (YoY). "In the future, there will be an increase in exports of coffee commodities in line with the increase in world coffee consumption, while for areca nut, the market will continue to grow along with the increasing demand for betel nut for beauty, health and pharmaceutical products," he said.
It should be noted that last April, President Joko Widodo accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo, released 7 containers of areca nut exports from Jambi Province or around 126 tons with an economic value of IDR 4.07 billion for Pakistan. The Ministry of Agriculture recorded Jambi betel nut exports from January to January. March 2022 as many as 17,174 tons with a value of Rp416.4 billion. However, according to Dedi, challenges related to the export of plantation commodities also need to be well anticipated, starting from improving product quality standardization and reducing import duty rates in a number of export destination countries. “Regarding quality, the focus on handling GAP and GHP at the planter level will continue to be our concern. Specifically, the reduction of import tariffs on products can be pursued through bilateral diplomatic efforts which will continue to be encouraged with export destination countries," said Dedi. Furthermore, for product branding, promotional activities are important in introducing plantation products in Jambi province. "In 2022, it is hoped that promotional opportunities through Odicoff (one day with Indonesia Coffee, Fruit and Floriculture, ed) will be carried out optimally so as to open product market access for export," he said.
