Fakfak Regency, West Papua, is known as a center for nutmeg cultivation, with approximately 18,500 hectares of cultivated land and an annual production of nearly 18,000 tons. This leading commodity has even emerged as a supplier of Indonesian nutmeg and mace to the European market, thanks to the superior quality of local seeds, eliminating the need for seed imports. However, product distribution is still concentrated in Surabaya due to the lack of local exporters. Only one business operator in Fakfak is currently able to distribute exports directly from the region.

Despite its high potential, the nutmeg sector in Fakfak still faces several challenges. These include traditional cultivation practices, a lack of modern processing technology, and limited post-harvest facilities such as solar dryers and quality laboratory facilities. Furthermore, institutional strengthening, such as the establishment of a regionally-owned enterprise (BUMD) or farmer training, is also urgently needed to bolster exports of derivative products, rather than solely selling raw seeds. Cross-stakeholder communication between local governments, exporters, financial institutions, and associations is considered key to ensuring Fakfak's Tomandin nutmeg truly goes global and contributes maximally to the local economy.

Source: https://rri.co.id/daerah/1777591/pala-fakfak-punya-potensi-ekspor-besar