Koperasi Permata Indah Rubaru (PIR) has been working towards making Rubaru red onions from Sumenep widely recognized and a preferred choice among consumers. This goal has gained momentum with a recent export order for fried onions to the Netherlands. The cooperative has signed an export contract valued at USD 400,000, running through 2028. In addition to the international export, Rubaru fried onions have successfully entered modern retail markets and are even being used by culinary associations. Abdur Rauf, Supervisor of Koperasi PIR, explained that the opportunity to enter foreign markets came through support from various stakeholders, including the central and local governments and Bank Indonesia. The cooperative was connected with a Dutch distributor, who is the buyer. The first shipment to the Netherlands, consisting of packaged fried onions, took place on November 1, 2023. According to Rauf, the cooperative’s responsibility is to provide the fried onions according to the buyer's specifications, ensuring quality and consistency for future shipments.

Originally a transformation body, PIR expanded in late 2023 to cover the entire onion production process, including seedling production, cultivation, post-harvest handling, product processing, and marketing. This vertical integration supports 115 local farmers who are part of the cooperative. Bank Indonesia has played a significant role in supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) like PIR, particularly those involved in export activities. The bank’s efforts include providing infrastructure, such as a cold storage facility for the Rubaru cluster. This facility helps extend the shelf life of raw onions and ensures a steady supply during periods of high demand for processed products. Fauzan, the fried onion processing manager at PIR, emphasized that the cooperative is actively expanding its sales, with products now available in retail outlets. The UMKM and Pesantren Exploration Team, organized by Bank Indonesia, recently visited PIR to observe its operations, including its three large frying units, each measuring around 120 cm in diameter. Fauzan assured that PIR is fully equipped to handle large orders, further expanding its capacity for both domestic and international markets.

Source https://surabaya.bisnis.com/read/20241121/562/1817805/bawang-rubaru-tembus-pasar-ekspor