Going bananas over sun-dried bananas from South Banten

Yr. Prahista

The delicacy sale pisang sold in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Cianjur and other towns in West Java is most likely produced in remote villages in South Banten. In their various plastic wrapping, the preserved bananas pass for factory-produced goods.

A vendor in Sukabumi acknowledged, "The packaging is made in the city, but the product is from remote Banten." He told how most of the preserved bananas sold in his area were from Bayah, a subdistrict in the south of Lebak regency. The area borders Pelabuhanratu, the tourist locale in the southern part of Sukabumi regency.

The industry is a source of employment for many, with the mainly women workers paid according to their output. Wirja, who runs a preserved-banana business in Pasir Bungur village, said, "They usually earn about Rp 5,000 a day."

Apart from Wirjo's enterprise, there are various other production centers for sale pisang. A village administrator said, "In Bayah there are more than five cottage industries producing reserved bananas."

Bayah is among the areas with great potential from production of preserved bananas, which is understandable because many residents grow bananas. Hanafi, a resident of Cibareno II, said, "Every yard is bound to have a banana tree."

But the abundance of bananas can lead to an oversupply in the local market, causing already low prices of bananas to tumble further. The problem is compounded when heavy rain keeps buyers away from the market.

Hanafi said production of bananas in Bayah district supplied to the cities can reach more than 50 tons. The bananas are usually transported through Sukabumi regency, not through Bayah subdistrict and Lebak regency's capital of Rangkasbitung even though the distance is further.

However, because of the heavy damage to roads in the Pelabuhanratu area, traders are complaining that transportation costs are rising.

A trader from Panaruwan village, Haji Sunta, said "It used to cost Rp 40,000 for truck rental from Pelabuhanratu, but now it is from Rp 45,000 to Rp 50,000."

He hoped the southern route of the Cibaren-Bayah road would be repaired soon. Cibareno is located along the Bayah-Cisolok- Pelabuhanratu road covering 62 kilometers. But three quarters of the 35 km section from Bayah to Cibareno has sustained heavy damage in the past year.

"If the road is in good shape, then the economic fortunes of the local people can also develop," said Sunta. "And the price of bananas will no longer be so low."

Apart from coconuts, bananas are the main source of income for the local population. They usually harvest the fruit every two weeks. "From one harvest, we can usually obtain about 100 kilograms of fresh bananas, but it depends on the area planted and the number of bananas which can be harvested."

The low market price for fresh bananas means that even a bountiful harvest cannot assure an improvement in their welfare.

Another resident said, "One kilogram of bananas only sells for Rp 200." This means a profit from one harvest of about Rp 20,000.

Ocid, who has a sidewalk kiosk, said, "If the buyer goes straight to the sidewalk sellers, the price is Rp 250."

Ocid buys straight from farmers but will also consider produce from traveling banana sellers, who locals call "brokers". "They usually come twice a week from the main market," Ocid said.

Different types of bananas, such as jackfruit and Ambon bananas, are transported to Kramatjati Market in Jakarta. They are then distributed to smaller markets or to sellers of fried bananas.

Seim bananas, what locals know as seblot, are purchased by vendors who make preserved bananas. Processing does not use technology but relies on drying by the sun.

The bananas are boiled and peeled before being left in the sun for about five days. The work is handled by men.

"If it is overcast, like during the rainy season, it can take up to a week," says Wirjo.

If the bananas are not fully dried, they will not keep as long. "If they are dried completely, they can be stored for up to a month," Wirjo said.

One kilogram of preserved bananas usually requires seven kilograms of fresh bananas. Five preserved bananas are usually contained in one plastic wrapper; 20 of these are put into a larger package known as a bal. The task of packaging is reserved exclusively for women.

Wirjo employs more than 10 women workers and five men in his business, which he opened 15 years ago. Although he declined to reveal his profits, he said he sent 300 bal to Sukabumi every two weeks.