Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo has overseen the export of 96 tons of shallots to Thailand, with a transaction value of IDR 3.4 billion. It is worth noting that the overall export contract value amounts to 75 containers, equivalent to IDR 73.5 billion. Minister Syahrul expressed his gratitude because, at a time when many countries are facing extreme weather conditions, Indonesia has been able to demonstrate its capability by producing various commodities, including shallots, for both domestic consumption and export. He stated that shallots have always been one of Indonesia's flagship commodities. However, we must also remember that we are currently facing El Niño, which can disrupt production. To address this challenge, Minister Syahrul called on all regional leaders, including regents and governors, to assist farmers in production. He wants agriculture to continue to progress and be the frontline in strengthening the nation's economy.
Acting Regent of Brebes Urip Sihabudin expressed his gratitude for the attention of the Ministry of Agriculture, which has consistently assisted the region in increasing production through superior seeds, mechanisation technology, and access to agricultural Micro Business Credit (KUR). Moreover, we were also assisted in holding a shallot festival, the first of its kind in Indonesia," said Urip Sihabudin. According to Urip, the shallot production in 2022 reached 385,000 tons, while the production in July 2023 reached 195,000 tons. It is estimated that by the end of this year, production could reach 388,000 tons, an increase compared to 2022. Director General of Horticulture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Prihasto Setyanto, stated that shallot production has been increasing year by year. As an example, national production in 2022 reached 1.5 million tons, while the demand was only about 1.2 million tons. On the contrary, Director General Prihasto continued, Indonesia has successfully turned the tide by producing shallots massively, thus meeting domestic and export needs. On average, export destinations include Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
