Maintaining global trust in Banyumas coconut sugar

Behind the sweetness of coconut sugar from Banyumas Regency, Central Java, enjoyed by consumers across the globe, lies the hard work of thousands of tappers who climb coconut trees daily to collect quality sap. Yet in the global market, sweetness alone is insufficient. Trust is the primary asset that must be continuously maintained through quality, certification, governance, and collaboration among various parties. Banyumas Regency has long been a heartland of Indonesia’s coconut sugar industry. Banyumas Regent Sadewo Tri Lastiono stated that approximately 90 per cent of the world’s coconut blossom sugar demand is supplied by Indonesia, with around 80 per cent of that originating from the Banyumas Raya area, which includes the regencies of Banyumas, Cilacap, Purbalingga, and Banjarnegara. From this region, coconut blossom sugar reaches markets in Asia, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. This global market trust was reaffirmed through the release of a crystal coconut sugar export worth 46,000 US dollars bound for Chicago, United States, from the factory of PT Integral Mulia Cipta in Wiradadi Village, Sokaraja District. The factory processes coconut sugar produced by Banyumas farmers. However, according to Sadewo, maintaining export markets is far more difficult than opening them. Sadewo, who was once involved in exports with a cooperative he mentored, recalled a bitter experience when four containers of coconut blossom sugar shipped to Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic were rejected because tests indicated the presence of refined sugar. He stated the issue did not originate with the tappers but was suspected to have occurred at one link in the trade chain after the product was collected. The incident became a crucial lesson that a single small mistake can destroy trust built over many years. Therefore, reforming cooperatives, supervising the supply chain, and strengthening organic certification are non-negotiable necessities. Organic certification even brings tangible economic benefits. Through a CSR Premium scheme from European buyers, cooperative members who have obtained organic certificates receive additional income of approximately Rp5,000 per kilogramme of coconut blossom sugar. This incentive directly increases the tappers’ earnings while encouraging them to continuously maintain product quality.