Heaptalk, Banyuwangi — The Ministry of Trade Republic Indonesia, together with PT Pandawa Agri Indonesia, released 1 million liters of reductant herbicide products called “Weed Solut-ion” for shipping to Malaysia (PAI). This product is a blend of insecticides that can significantly lower pollution levels by up to 50%. It leaves no residue and is completely safe for the environment. The export launch, entitled “From Banyuwangi to the World: Export 1 million liters of herbicide reductant to sustainable agriculture,” was held in Banyuwangi, East Java, on Thursday (30/11).
The herbicide reductant is a new local invention product derived from the biodiversity of Banyuwangi Regency, Indonesia, and has the potential to contribute to sustainable agribusiness. This effort is also part of the follow-up on the March 2021 export to Malaysia of herbicide reductant products of up to 20 tons.
Participated on this ceremony were CEO PT. Pandawa Agri Indonesia, Kukuh Roxa Putra Hadriyono; Assistant Government of Banyuwangi Regency, Dwianto; and Director of Export Development Cooperation, Marolop Nainggolan.
“The Ministry of Trade’s decision to release this pesticide export is a reflection of its support for innovative products developed by the nation’s youngsters. This activity also aligns with the Ministry of Trade’s objective, which is to raise awareness and passion for local firms in order to stimulate the Indonesian economy. One of them is by exporting the finished product rather than just raw materials or raw materials, which results in a very high added value “Separately, Didi Sumedi, Director General of National Export Development, stated.
Marolop stated that innovation, like PAI’s, is critical to stimulating the Indonesian economy. As a result, the Ministry of Trade is prepared to promote the export of this product and to demonstrate that Indonesia is also a source of ecologically beneficial innovation.
Almost all of the domestic chemical industry’s requirements, Marolop continued, are still met by imports. More than 90% of chemicals used are still imported. “Pesticides are a chemical industry that imports raw materials and is the third-highest contributor to the carbon footprint, behind steel and cement. However, because of the presence of Weed Solut-ion, the manufacturing process of this herbicide reductant produces very little carbon dioxide, aligning it with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) goal of reducing carbon emissions “he continued.
According to Kukuh Roxa Putra Hadriyono, CEO of PAI, this activity began in a crisis period as a result of rising pesticide costs that continued to rise and the fear of supply scarcity. Additionally, farmers worldwide require cost-effective weed control alternatives.
“Beginning with the crisis, there appeared to be good chances that we might seize it. The global impact of the herbicide price hike has encouraged PAI to begin growing its output in the future, “Kukuh explained.
According to global distributors, ongoing usage of Kukuh and Weed Solut-ion may provide a solution to the problem of herbicide dose reduction by up to 50%. This is because many countries have already implemented rules aimed at reducing pesticide use, but have yet to find the optimal solution.
“In addition, the components of our environmentally friendly products can save up to 40% on pesticide expenses. Thus, distributors hope that PAI will be willing to expand its market. This is the rationale for our goal of gradually expanding our current production facilities by up to 50 times their current capacity. We also did not anticipate that a large number of global distributors from Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America would contact us to work with us,” Kukuh explained.
Dwianto, Banyuwangi Regency Government Assistant, said that the regency government will continue to encourage and support youth-led initiatives. This innovation is supposed to provide a solution for farmers who are now facing difficulties because of the spiraling price of herbicides.
“I admire the accomplishments of the PAI team. Within a year, we were able to export 1 million liters of a reductant, which is something to be grateful for, especially in the midst of a pandemic. It is hoped that in the future, this innovation will be extended to all farmers in Banyuwangi,” said Dwianto.
Between January and September 2021, overall trade between Indonesia and Malaysia was USD 15 billion, a 46.63 percent increase over the previous year’s same period. Indonesia’s exports to Malaysia totaled USD 8.70 billion. Meanwhile, Indonesia imported USD 6.34 billion from Malaysia.
