Batang Coffee Potential For East European Export Market

Local coffee from Batang Regency has the potential to enter the Eastern European export market. This was conveyed by the Chairperson of the Association of Central Java Indonesian Export Companies Ade Siti Muksodah.

“Central Java coffee can already be marketed in Europe and some areas in America. We have also started to go to Africa. Batang coffee can also enter Russia, like Wonosobo coffee,” she explained at the Kenduri Coffee event in Adinuso Reban.

According to tribunnews.com, Ade explained that coffee exports from Central Java had increased. In 2023, local coffee exports have increased 11-13 percent from the previous year. However, it still ranks under top ten at the national level. Therefore, Ade feels the need for in-depth education for coffee farmers.

“So not only the coffee has a high quality, but the farmers also have a high quality. So that the export of coffee will be sustainable (last longer),” she added.

Improvement From Both Sides

Rokhim, a coffee farmer from Batang, explained that the coffee yields in his plantation are still at standard rates. In a day, each hectare can produce 12 tons of coffee. Now he is targeting to be able to harvest 15-16 tons per day. With the current price of Beans ranging from IDR 65 thousand to 70 thousand per kilogram (kg).

“For marketing, we have worked together through cafe shops for red picking types. Even though it’s not much, we focus on maintaining quality. Because this must be accounted for,” said Rokhim.

Meanwhile, the Special Staff of the Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) Caswiyono also gave his opinion. He said that Batang coffee needs to have its own branding. Branding efforts will also affect the local economy. Caswiyono assesses that this needs to be developed through ecosystems, and cannot be done partially.

“The ecosystem starts from cultivation, production, processing, to marketing. Everything must be integrated, and this has been done by coffee activists here,” he explained.