Rancak, Jengkol Becomes A West Sumatran Commodity Exported To Japan

West Sumatra managed to export jengkol to Japan. (Wikipedia illustration)

PADANG - Who would have thought that jengkol fruit, which can cause an unpleasant odor in urine, is also loved by people in other parts of the world, even to Japan. Now jengkol or jering from Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra has managed to penetrate the export market to the country of Sakura, Japan.

Based on data collected from the Padang Agricultural Quarantine through the quarantine system, IQFAST in its working area, jengkol from West Sumatra has never previously entered the export market.

However, it was recorded that 100 kilograms of jengkol exported to Tokyo, Japan had passed the agricultural quarantine certification.

The fruit, which is included in the legume category with the Latin name Archidendron pauciflorum, was unexpectedly included in the ranks of agricultural export commodities, even though the volume is still relatively small. West Sumatra's agriculture has successfully entered foreign markets, now it's jengkol's turn to enter Japan.

President Jokowi lets go of West Sumatra exports. (Dok Sumbarprov.go.id)

Although according to information from exporters that the demand for jengkol to Japan is from Minang nomads in the country, this can be an important note that the number of commodities that can be exported is increasing.

Likewise, in terms of the export value of jengkol, at this time it may still be relatively small, but if demand becomes more frequent and the quantity increases, it is not impossible for jengkol to become one of the mainstays of agricultural commodity exports in the future.

The form of exports, apart from being in the form of whole fruit, can also be in the form of processed food.

Domestically, in some areas, the price of 1 kg of jengkol often exceeds the high price that can even exceed the price of 1 kg of chicken meat, or close to the price of 1 kg of meat. Of course this is to meet the export market, the price of jengkol is also certain to exceed the domestic price.

Mangosteen

Not only jengkol, from January to February 2021, 1.8 thousand tons of mangosteen from West Sumatra were exported to China using special aircraft from Minangkabau International Airport.

Padang Agricultural Quarantine Head Iswan Haryanto said that although during the pandemic, flight access to a number of countries was limited, it did not affect the delivery of agricultural commodities from West Sumatra to foreign countries.

West Sumatra mangosteen exports to China. (Intermediate Doc)

For mangosteen exports there is a positive trend, exporters are renting special aircraft for the Padang-Guangzhou route specifically to meet the demand for mangosteen in the country.

Therefore, he assessed that the high demand for the mangosteen overseas market must be supported by the fulfillment of the requirements of the destination country.

For this reason, business actors must continue to improve the quality and quantity of exports for the success of the program for the triple movement of exports of agricultural commodities from West Sumatra.

From the IQFAST quarantine system data, the export trend of mangosteen from West Sumatra has increased from year to year.

As of February 2021, certified mangosteen exports were 1.8 thousand tons or worth Rp. 135.14 billion with a delivery frequency of 183 times to China.

Meanwhile, in 2020 the mangosteen has been certified 197 times with a volume of 2.4 thousand tons with a value of Rp 136.83 billion which is also exported to China.

Then throughout 2019, 151 mangosteen export i certifications were recorded with a volume of 256.5 tons or Rp. 14.11 billion.

Packaging

To spur the export of commodities from the horticulture sub-sector, his party also provides education in the form of information and motivation, direct inspection of the process in container houses, transportation equipment to the fulfillment of mangosteen export protocols through quarantine checks.

With the increase in mangosteen exports, it is hoped that it can be a motivation for farmers and agricultural business actors. So that welfare and economic movement in West Sumatra will also increase. In February 2021 even the Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo, also immediately released the export of 14 agricultural commodities from West Sumatra worth Rp. 298.67 billion. "West Sumatra's leading export products range from petai, jengkol, mangosteen, coconut derivative products and others to 11 destination countries such as the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Hong Kong, China, Japan, India, Bangladesh, and a number of countries in Southeast Asia.

It didn't stop there, West Sumatra again exported a number of agricultural commodities worth IDR 383.8 billion in the period 9-14 August 2021 to a number of countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and the United States through Teluk Bayur Port.

This is proof that the agricultural sector is one sector that can survive and support the regional economy in the midst of a pandemic," said West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi.

Agricultural products exported include cinnamon, palm, rubber, areca nut, nutmeg, gambier, coffee beans, petai china, kecombrang, jengkol and several other products that have a wide market in several countries.

The export potential continues to be increased, one of which is by strengthening the downstreaming of agricultural products in the region so that what is exported is no longer raw commodities.

Cinnamon, for example, needs in the destination country that has been processed into powder. Likewise with rubber. If it can bring investors to build a factory in West Sumatra, the value of the product will certainly be higher.

In the future, the relevant Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) will be tasked with starting to prepare programs for the downstreaming of agricultural products in line with the vision and mission outlined in the 2021-2026 Regional Medium-Term Development Plan which also focuses on the agricultural sector.

In line with efforts to increase export volume, it must be supported by the availability of adequate seaports. Teluk Bayur Harbor fits that description but currently there are still obstacles, namely the small size of the crane so that it cannot lift large containers.

Pelindo II is expected to be able to find a solution to this so that exports of products from West Sumatra can run well. This was reported by Antara.

Sea Toll

Meanwhile, the West Sumatra Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) hopes that the central government will immediately implement a sea highway from Teluk Bayur to Colombo in order to increase West Sumatra's exports.

"Bayur Bay is the only best port on the West Coast of Sumatra, and previously there was cooperation with countries on the coast of the Indian Ocean, this opportunity must be taken," said West Sumatra Kadin Chairman Ramal Saleh.

The Teluk Bayur Sea Toll Road to Colombo then continues on to Chenai, so the distance is closer than to Tanjung Priuk and there are two billion people there from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

This opportunity must be seized, and for export collaboration with Bengkulu, Jambi, mainland Riau and southern North Sumatra.

If the sea highway is realized, there will be faster economic growth. It can't be done immediately, but this is an opportunity that must be captured and taken.

However, the key is synergy and collaboration between the government and the business world so that it can be realized to improve people's welfare.