Aceh's coveted export, patchouli, renowned globally for its exceptional quality in perfume production, sees a push for increased exports. The Aceh Innovative Patchouli Producers Cooperative (Inovac) and PT Nat' Green's subsidiary, PT UGreen Aromatics International (UGreen), jointly exported 1.2 tons of raw materials, valued at IDR 1 billion, including ingredients for perfume oil and nutmeg, to France. The export was formally inaugurated by the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Teten Masduki, at Syiah Kuala University (USK), Aceh. Despite regular 3-month exports to France, Inovac's current farmer-level production only meets 1 ton of patchouli oil, sourced exclusively from Gayo farmers. Other regions' farmers struggle due to insufficient capital, resulting in an inability to meet production demands.
Nadia, Inovac's Chairperson, noted a French demand for 6 tons of raw materials, underscoring the need for financial support from the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, particularly through the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Fund Distributing Institution (LPDB)-KUMKM, to aid farmers and meet French export demands. Formed in 2019, Inovac achieves a monthly revenue of up to IDR 200 million from patchouli oil, nutmeg, and derivative products such as perfumes, essential oils, body butter, and body mist. Syaifullah Muhammad, Director of the Atsiri Research Center (ARC), highlighted ARC's role in training and research for Inovac, supporting the cooperative in patchouli oil management and product diversification.Syaifullah emphasized Aceh's high-quality patchouli oil, explaining its demand in French perfume and cosmetic industries due to its anti-aging properties. Presently, Inovac exports 80% of patchouli oil production, retaining 20% for the domestic market, offering around 30 products for local use. Efforts are underway to revitalize Aceh's declining patchouli industry through innovation, education, and cooperative collaborations with USK.
Source: https://sharia.republika.co.id/berita/s5gas2502/nilam-ekspor-unggulan-aceh-yang-sangat-disukai-eropa
