The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) is intensifying efforts to boost the export volume of ornamental plants, aiming to optimize foreign exchange earnings. In addition to commodities like ginger, milk, eggs, and durian, Kementan, through the Directorate General of Horticulture, is focusing on increasing the export volume of ornamental plants, particularly to international markets such as the United States and Europe. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman has emphasized that 2023 is a focal point for increasing export volumes, including ornamental plants, which have high competitiveness in the global market, especially in the United States and Europe. Director General of Horticulture, Prihasto Setyanto, expressed amazement at the achievement of exporting ornamental plant seeds. "We will do anything for the welfare of farmers; our mission is the prosperity of farmers, and the export of ornamental plant seeds is a source of pride for us," he stated.
Director of Seed, Inti Pertiwi Nashwari, highlighted Indonesia's wealth of ornamental plant varieties, with over 412 types and thousands of variations. PT. Florion, a cultivation and exporter of ornamental plants in Bogor, has successfully exported various types of ornamental plants to several European countries, contributing significantly to the increase in the country's foreign exchange reserves. Efforts to increase ornamental plant exports involve encouraging investment and streamlining the licensing process for seed release. "The export permit for ornamental plants is processed through a single window at the Center for Variety Protection and Agricultural Licensing (PPVTPP). We guarantee that the process will be faster online, simplifying all processes as long as the requirements are met," explained Nashwari. As of November 2023, PT. Florion has exported more than 35 million ornamental plant cuttings worth 12.25 million Euros to various European countries. The exported plants include Saintpaulia flowers, Aglaonema, Tillandsia, and Calanchoe. "We plan to expand to new markets in Japan and the Middle East. With profitable selling prices, we can still achieve a good margin from cultivation costs of around IDR 1,960 per cutting," said a senior manager at PT. Florion. "Our ornamental plants are cultivated with the standards requested by the destination countries. As a result, this year we received an award from the Agriculture Quarantine Agency as the second-largest Non-Tax State Revenue contributor," he added.
