Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, many business sectors have experienced losses, including agriculture. The selling prices of many crops have decreased. Starting from rice to vegetables. However, exports of edamame and porang have actually increased rapidly. Both plants have been successfully exported to various countries. Starting from China, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, to South Korea and Australia. Apart from being industrial ingredients, edamame beans and porang tubers have many health benefits.
Edamame Properties and Benefits
Edamame is a type of bean that is still in the pod. Initially, this food ingredient came from Japan, but eventually spread to various countries. It is known to taste delicious and is rich in nutrients that are beneficial for body health, including:
Reduces Bad Cholesterol
A study suggests that eating 50 grams of soybeans every day can reduce bad cholesterol in the body. By regularly consuming edamame soybeans, you will also reduce the threat of heart disease.
Reducing the Risk of Dangerous Diseases
Edamame is rich in isoflavones which can act as antioxidants to ward off various risks of dangerous diseases, ranging from hypertension, osteoporosis, to diabetes. The reason is, edamame soybeans have a good effect on keeping blood sugar stable.
Maintaining Digestive Health
Edamame is a soybean that is high in protein and fiber, so it is effective as a probiotic for the body. This substance can help the growth of good bacteria in the human digestive system, so that the health of the tract is maintained.
Maintain Ideal Weight
For those of you who are undergoing a diet program, edamame is the right choice of food to maintain an ideal weight. The beans are rich in easily digestible fiber, making you feel full for longer.
Efficacy and Benefits of Porang
Porang is a type of tuber commonly called iles-iles. Porang is widely used as an ingredient in cosmetics, adhesive glue, and ramen noodles. Apart from meeting industrial needs, porang can also be consumed directly and provides many health benefits such as the following:
Lowers cholesterol
Porang contains glucomannan which can suppress bad cholesterol in the blood, so it is effective in helping reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. This has been proven in diabetes sufferers, where their cholesterol fell after consuming supplements with glucomannan.
Reduces the Risk of Diabetes
Apart from reducing cholesterol levels, the glucomannan substance in porang tubers can also increase nutrient absorption in the small intestine. This process increases insulin sensitivity and makes blood sugar levels in the body more controlled.
Reducing weight
With the glucomannan content in porang, you can also lose weight more optimally. Interestingly, weight can be lost without reducing levels of calcium, iron, and copper and zinc in the body.
Prevent cancer
A research on animals proves that porang is able to prevent and inhibit the growth of cancer, especially lung cancer. That way, the level of malignancy of tumors and cancer can be reduced slowly.
High Exports of Edamame and Porang
From the various benefits above, ultimately the number of requests for edamame and porang increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has encouraged many people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. One way is by consuming natural foods such as edamame and porang. The amount of demand for edamame and porang comes not only from within the country, but also abroad, so that the number of exports of edamame and porang has increased significantly. The following are facts about the increase in exports of edamame and porang soybeans during the Covid-19 pandemic:
Total Edamame Exports Reach 6790 Tons
According to data processed by the Agricultural Quarantine Agency, total exports of edamame soybeans in 2019 reached 6,790.7 tons. This number is the total national exports as stated by the Ministry of Agriculture in an Instagram upload in January 2020. According to the export data, it can be seen that there was an increase in exports of up to 715.7 tons from the previous year. In 2018, total edamame exports were recorded at 6,690.7 tons. Interestingly, 66.6% of total exports came from the Jember area, East Java
Total Exports of Porang Flour Reached 11.31 Billion Rupiah
In the past, porang tubers were often ignored and were even considered wild plants. In fact, this type of tuber can be an important raw material for the cosmetics and adhesive glue industries. Not surprisingly, when exported to other countries the value is quite fantastic. For local prices, porang tubers are only around IDR 4,000/kg. Meanwhile, for the export market, the selling price can reach IDR 14,000/kg. This price applies to various export destination countries such as China, Japan, Vietnam and Australia.
According to data from the Agricultural Quarantine Agency, exports of porang flour in 2018 reached 254 tons and generated a sales value of up to IDR 11.31 billion. It is not surprising that currently the Ministry of Agriculture is focusing on developing porang more optimally, because of its extraordinary export potential. Porang cultivation centers themselves are spread across various regions in Indonesia, but most are still centered on the island of Java. Starting from Bandung, West Java, Wonogiri, Central Java, as well as Madiun and Pasuruan, East Java.
Harvesting Dollars from Porang
The Ministry of Agriculture's efforts to help develop porang cultivation have received positive appreciation from many parties. One of them is Syaharuddin Alrif, who is a porang tuber farmer who serves as the supervisor of the Millennial Spirit Farmer Group.
According to Syaharuddin, porang cultivation is like cultivation that can harvest dollars because the profits are very large. He said that the porang land managed by his group reaches around 50 hectares and is capable of harvesting up to 150 tons of porang tubers in 8 months.
The harvest was sold for IDR 8,000/kg, so the total could reach IDR 1.2 billion. Meanwhile, the total maintenance costs are around IDR 70 million per hectare. Of course the opportunities are very promising if pursued seriously over the long term.
Constrained by Price Standardization and Lack of Factories
The high opportunity for porang cultivation is still hampered by several things. One of them is that there is no national standardization of prices, thus creating its own problems for farmers.
Apart from that, farmers are also constrained by a market that is not very large and the lack of porang processing factories in several regions in Indonesia. Currently, the number of factories actively processing porang is only 18-19 factories. The locations are also separated, thus hampering farmer mobility. Thus the discussion regarding the increase in edamame and porang exports during the pandemic. Apart from being used as industrial raw materials, edamame and porang can also be consumed personally to maintain health. It is not surprising that the number of requests is getting higher during this pandemic.