The Price Of Coconut Skyrockets, The Minister Of Agriculture Calls Exports To China-Europe Is The Culprit

Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

BEKASI - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman opened his voice regarding the price of round coconut in the country which is still above Rp. 15,000 per item for the Jabodetabek area.

He said the demand for round coconut was indeed high, especially from China and Malaysia, causing prices to rise.

"The price of coconut rising, world coconut prices rising, Malaysia Need, China needs," said Amran in Bekasi Regency, West Java, Tuesday, August 19.

For your information, the price of round coconut is usually around Rp. 1,350 per item at the farmer level. However, now the price has reached Rp. 4,000 to Rp. 10,000 per item.

Amran admitted that due to high demand from abroad, many coconut farmers chose to export coconut produced abroad.

Actually, he said, this condition was a blessing for local farmers.

"We have monitored it, and it is a blessing for Indonesian coconut farmers. Because there is a shift in food consumers, especially coconuts in China and several other countries. It is a favorite," said Amran.

Furthermore, Amran explained, the increase in demand for round coconuts was due to the higher consumption of coconut milk or coconut milk and coconut oil (VCO).

"Now there is a shift in diet, namely coconut milk for China, and the VCO also has a very high price, IDR 145,000 per kg," he said.

Therefore, Amran said, to stabilize the increase in round coconut prices in the country, the Ministry of Agriculture also encouraged production to be increased.

Amran mengaku sudah mengantongi anggaran untuk pembibitan kelapa bulat.

Adapun sentra produksi kelapa bulat di Indonesia tersebar di Riau, Jambi, Sulawesi Utara, Sulawesi Tenggara, dan Sulawesi Selatan.

“Kemudian kita replanting. Kemudian kita memelihara dengan baik, agar produktivitasnya naik, dan terakhir kita hilirisasi. Bila perlu, kita ekspornya adalah VCO dengan coconut milk,” kata Amran.

Amran admitted that he had pocketed a budget for round coconut breeding.

The integer coconut production centers in Indonesia are spread across Riau, Jambi, North Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and South Sulawesi.

Then we replanting. Then we maintain it well, so that productivity increases, and finally we downstream it. If necessary, we export it is VCO with a coconut millik," said Amran.