Bengkulu Coffee Begins Exports to Italy

Bengkulu's First Coffee Export Launched by Deputy Governor at Kepahiang Regency Government Office, Monday (September 7), by Bank Indonesia Representative Office in Bengkulu Province. The event was part of efforts to strengthen the coffee commodity ecosystem from upstream to downstream.

Deputy Governor of Bengkulu Ir. H. Mi'an, Head of Bank Indonesia Representative Office in Bengkulu Province Wahyu Yuwana Hidayat, Kepahiang Regent H. Zurdi Nata, Vice Regent of Kepahiang Ir. H. Abdul Hafizh, Lebong Regent H. Azhari, S.H., M.H., Secretary of Rejang Lebong Regency Iwan Sumantri, and members of the Forkopimda (Regional Leadership Coordination Forum) of Kepahiang Regency attended the event.

Kepahiang Regent H. Zurdi Nata stated that Bengkulu coffee has long been recognized as one of the region's flagship commodities, but its export process still goes through other regions, so the identity of Bengkulu origin has not fully emerged in international trade chains.

"Actually, Bengkulu coffee has already been known, but its export process still goes through other regions. Today marks a historic moment for Bengkulu because we are now exporting with our own regional brand, namely Bengkulu," said the Regent.

According to him, direct exports carrying the name of Bengkulu present an opportunity to strengthen the position of local coffee commodities while opening up space for economic value enhancement that can be felt down to the farmer level.

This momentum was further reinforced by the signing of inter-regional cooperation agreements between Kepahiang, Rejang Lebong, and Lebong regencies. This collaboration is expected to build synergy in developing production and quality of coffee in these three core areas.

"Through this inter-regional cooperation, I hope it will become a path for synergy among regions. I am confident that with this cooperation, coffee production will become stronger and increase," he said.

The Regent emphasized that increased production must go hand in hand with improved quality. The Kepahiang Regency Government, he said, has taken several steps to encourage farmers to produce coffee that meets standards and has competitiveness.

These efforts include holding coffee plantation competitions, providing education for farmers on land management and coffee processing, as well as preparing pilot projects for the use of superior seeds.

"The winners of the coffee plantation competition will serve as examples for other farmers to learn how to manage their coffee plantations according to standards," he said.

He assessed that strengthening quality from the plantation level is an important part of building a coffee supply chain capable of meeting export market needs. Thus, farmers are not only encouraged to increase production but also to produce commodities with better quality and selling prices.

The series of first export activities were also filled with Coffee Discussions and symbolic handover of coffee seedlings as part of strengthening the development of coffee commodities from the upstream side.

The Kepahiang Regent also expressed appreciation to the Bengkulu Provincial Government and Bank Indonesia for supporting the implementation of the first coffee export with Bengkulu's identity.

"Highest appreciation to the Bengkulu Provincial Government and Bank Indonesia for this first coffee export activity," said the Regent.

This first export is hoped not to stop as a ceremony but to become an entry point for strengthening the value chain of Bengkulu coffee, starting from improving plantation quality, production, processing, marketing, to accessing international markets.

With strengthened inter-regional cooperation and support from various parties, coffee produced by Bengkulu farmers is expected to have greater competitiveness and provide more significant added value to the regional economy.