Bengkulu-based coffee SMEs are experiencing firsthand that the\nprocess of exporting their plantation produce is not as simple as merely\npacking coffee and shipping it to various destination countries.<\/p>\n
To meet global market demand, numerous criteria must be met, ranging\nfrom the initial planting and maintenance to harvesting and post-harvest\nprocessing. All these steps are essential to ensure that the exported\ncoffee products adhere to the quality standards desired by the\nmarket.<\/p>\n
Saiful Ansori, a coffee farmer in Kepahiang Regency and owner of the\nSME Rodaba Coffee, dreams of his production being recognised beyond\ndomestic coffee business circles. He aims to establish a presence in the\nglobal market as the pinnacle of his broader professional\nachievements.<\/p>\n
This ambition is supported by the fact that Bengkulu Province is\nranked among the top five national producers of coffee. In terms of\nsupply volume, the province, now nicknamed \u2018Bumi Merah Putih\u2019, is\nunlikely to face difficulties in meeting demand.<\/p>\n
Regarding flavour quality, the leading commodities\u2014known as Sintaro\n(Sindang Dataran Robusta), an original variety from Rejang Lebong\nRegency, and Sehasen from Bumi Sehasen, Kepahiang Regency\u2014are already\nwidely recognised. These two varieties frequently win awards at various\ncoffee festivals, proving that Bengkulu coffee has been tested for its\nflavour quality.<\/p>\n
However, flavour quality and quantity alone are insufficient to meet\nglobal market demands. There are several other requirements that must be\nfulfilled before the product can enter an export cargo container.<\/p>\n
Saiful explained that the requirements demanded by the global market\nare diverse. International buyers request detailed information regarding\nthe coffee type, picking periods and methods, examples of red cherry\npicking, moisture content levels, and several other standards. Even the\nuniformity of coffee bean diameters is a consideration for overseas\nbuyers. Furthermore, administrative completeness and commodity identity\nmust also be satisfied.<\/p>\n
These requirements certainly cannot be met using only traditional\nfarming methods or rudimentary tools and infrastructure. At the\nplantation development level, farmers require comprehensive coffee\nknowledge, ranging from seedlings, planting methods, and treatments to\nfertilisers, topographical and geographical conditions, and weather\npatterns to ensure that the harvested coffee is of exportable\nquality.<\/p>\n
From the farmers\u2019 perspective, years of experience in tending to\ncoffee plants serve as a significant asset. The remaining challenge is\nto supplement this experience with enhanced knowledge and technical\nsupport so that harvests can meet market demands.<\/p>\n
The local government recognises that improving the quality of\nBengkulu coffee cannot rely solely on farmers\u2019 experience. Coffee\nfarmers need strengthened knowledge and support from the initial\ndevelopment of the plants until they produce fruit that meets market\nstandards.<\/p>\n
Strengthening farmers is seen as a vital part of improving coffee\nquality directly from the plantation. This initiative is being\nimplemented through \u2018coffee school\u2019 programmes, which have been attended\nby dozens of farmer groups, alongside the preparation of grafted coffee\nseedlings for thousands of hectares of farmland and efforts to ensure\nthe availability of fertiliser.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bengkulu-coffee-smes-aiming-for-global-markets-1789625141", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }