NTB Quarantine Agency Assesses Mangoes as Potential New Export Commodity

Mangoes are abundant here and that potential has not yet been explored for export purposes.

Mataram, West Lombok (ANTARA) — The Quarantine Agency of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) considers mangoes to have a good chance of becoming a new export commodity that could contribute to the region’s economic activity.

“Mangoes are very abundant here and that potential has not yet been explored for export purposes,” said Head of NTB Quarantine Ina Soelistyani, speaking after a Public Consultation Forum event in Lembar, West Lombok, on Monday.

Ina said most of the mango harvest from various parts of NTB is still marketed to meet domestic demand.

According to her, the commodity has the potential to increase the region’s non-mining export value if quality and technical requirements can be met consistently.

The largest mango-producing areas are Sumbawa Regency with 352,035 quintals, Central Lombok Regency with 298,827 quintals, and North Lombok Regency with 113,369 quintals.

Mangoes rank highest among the region’s fruit production, followed by banana production of 875,040 quintals and durian production of 252,866 quintals.

Ina explained that one of the key factors in exporting agricultural commodities is the ability to maintain supply continuity. Sustained product availability is the main requirement for meeting foreign market demand.

Besides mangoes, NTB Quarantine also sees export potential in coffee and cocoa. Both commodities have distinctive characteristics and have not yet been fully utilised to penetrate international markets.

Ina revealed that issuing quarantine certificates — the passport for exporting commodities — does not take long if all technical requirements are complete.

“It takes less than a day, just a matter of hours, if the technical requirements have been met upfront,” she said.