BPS: Demands for Medicinal Plants Raise Agricultural Exports

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) head Suhariyanto recorded the value of Indonesia’s agricultural export in the first quarter of 2020 yearly increased by 16.3 percent, amounted to US$910 million from that of last year’s US$780 million.

The agricultural exports value in March also up by 6.10 percent monthly and 17.82 percent yearly.

“The largest export commodities include medicinal plants, aromatics plants, and spices, as well as fruits, such as mangosteen, bananas, and others,” Suhariyanto said on Wednesday, April 15.

In addition, the value of other agricultural commodities exports in non-timber forest products and bird nests also experienced a hike. However, the contribution of agricultural sector exports was still relatively small at 2.25 percent. The highest export contribution came from the industrial sector reaching 78.92 percent, followed by mining at 14.05 percent, and oil and gas at 4.78 percent.

The Ministry of Agriculture’s Head of Public Relations and Information Bureau, Kuntoro Boga Andri, said the ministry targeted a three-fold increase in agricultural exports through the Three-fold Export Movement (Gratieks) program within four years. According to him, the program encouraged all stakeholders in agricultural development to adopt technology, innovation, networking, and strong cooperation.

“We also push for the use of the microcredit program Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR) for the agricultural sector. This policy is issued as an effort to provide capital for the farming business,” said Kuntoro.

LARISSA HUDA