COORPORATE BY BENGKULU GOVERNMENT

BENGKULU - Bengkulu Coffee began to compete in national and international markets. Bengkulu coffee branding that was intensively carried out by Governor Rohidin Mersyah began to show results. Bengkulu Coffee won three award categories at the French AVPA (Agency for the Valorization of the Agricultural Products) International Coffee Championship. Namely Bencoolen Rejang Lebong, Bencoolen Kepahiang, and Bermani Coffee Rejang Lebong. This award was given directly by AVPA President Philippe Juglar, at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD Serpong, Tangerang (16/10).

Bengkulu coffee activist Rika Kurnia Ningsih said that the award to Governor Rohidin was very appropriate. Because the assistance from the local government first downstream is very massive. At this time, continued Rika, the growth of downstream coffee players has grown over the past 3 years, and has reached around 135 Bengkulu premium coffee brands.

"The local government, under the leadership of Pak Rohidin, has succeeded in comparing Bengkulu coffee, by bringing the Bencoolen Coffee brand," said Rika, who is also a participant of the 349th Indonesia Expo Trand in 2019 in Serang - Banten.

According to Rika, Governor Rohidin has committed to the growth and development of premium coffee actors in Bengkulu. "The term governor, honest coffee. Honest coffee is coffee without any mixture and is managed properly according to standards, especially after harvesting, "Rika added.

Governor Rohidin, according to him, has a very big role in the development of Bengkulu Coffee, including the drive to have a Geographical Indication certification. In 2018 the Geographical Indication certification for the Kepahiang-Kopi Robusta Kepahiang people's coffee plantations has been issued by the Directorate General of Intellectual Property of the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights. While Rejang Lebong Regency came out on August 28, 2019.

"In the future, there will only be strengthening on the Human Resources side, for example conducting roaster, barista and cupper certification in Bengkulu. This has never been done before, "Rika suggested.

On the other hand, continued Rika, internet-based marketing needs to be done more massively. "It needs to be promoted with assistance and cooperation with e-commerce platforms. Because the Bengkulu market segmentation outside is not in Bengkulu itself, "said Rika the owner of the Gading Cempaka Coffee brand.

Meanwhile, Bengkulu Deputy Governor Dedi Ermansyah expressed his gratitude to various parties, especially the Governor of Bengkulu, who had been struggling to promote Bengkulu Coffee to begin to touch the European market.

"We are very grateful, Bengkulu coffee has now begun to enter the European market, this is indeed not easy, this is the result of our hard work all this time," added Dedy Ermansyah when representing Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah received the award.

Deputy Governor Dedy Ermansyah stressed, along with Governor Rohidin Mersyah, will continue to develop Bengkulu coffee, so that it will not only enter the European market, but will continue to develop other countries.

On the same occasion, the Indonesian Ambassador to France Arrmanatha Nasir stressed, so far in the European market Indonesian coffee was not known by the French community, but over time, French citizens had begun to glance at Indonesian coffee that had the best quality.

Arrmanatha Nasir hopes, coffee activists in each region, in Indonesia, will continue to maintain the quality of their respective coffee, so that Indonesian coffee is increasingly recognized abroad.

To note, Bengkulu is the third largest coffee producer nationally, the Robusta Coffee Plantation 86,746 Ha with a production of 55,333.34 Tons, while Arabica Coffee is 3,734 with 1,482.10 tons, and a large private Arabica coffee plantation with an area of ​​405 Ha with a production of 140 tons. (rls)