East Kalimantan Forest Farmers Export Dozens of Tonnes of Nipah Palm Sticks to Indian Market

The Sinar Nilam Forest Farmers Group (KTH) from East Kalimantan Province has exported around 40 tonnes of bulk nipah palm sticks to the Indian market. “This export step has proven capable of expanding market reach to international destinations,” said Rusmad, Acting Head of the East Kalimantan Forestry Service, in Samarinda on Saturday. Rusmadi noted that over the past two years, the total export volume of bulk nipah palm sticks from the farmers group reached 39.80 tonnes. These international trade transactions contributed total sales valued at Rp426,505,000 for the forest managers. “The details of the group’s export transactions include sales value of Rp291,450,000 in 2025 plus an achievement of Rp135,055,000 up to April 2026,” Rusmadi stated. The forestry commodity shipments were carried out through a cooperation channel with a private export distributor company in Jakarta. He further explained that all the raw material for the bulk sticks is harvested directly from the Social Forestry area in Muara Kembang Village, Kutai Kartanegara Regency. “The process of collecting nipah leaves by village communities always prioritises sustainability principles, carried out in stages over 20 days each month,” Rusmadi clarified. The farmers group’s daily production activities are accompanied by routine area protection patrols conducted at least once a week. Safeguarding the working area is a mandatory step to prevent potential ecosystem damage while protecting flora and fauna populations. This welfare improvement activity for communities on the forest fringe is supported by various parties, including the Delta Mahakam Forest Management Unit (KPHP) and Pertamina Hulu Mahakam.