As the initial step prior to sago certification in Bangka Belitung Province, Indonesian Forestry Certification Cooperation (IFCC) visited PT. Bangka Asindo Agri (PT. BAA), a tapioca and sago flour manufacturing factory located in Kenango Village, Sungailiat Sub District, Bangka Regency on last Tuesday (21/03). The visit was warmly welcomed by the Commissioner of PT. Bangka Asindo Agri (PT. BAA), Wahyudi Adinegoro and Business Development Manager of PT. BAA, Harry Pujiansyah; IFCC, represented by M. Haqi Wibowo, the IFCC Secretary General and Nurcahyo Adi, the Head of Certification, Accreditation and Training Division of IFCC, the visit aims to explore the potential and opportunity related to the IFCC/PEFC certification for sago. PT. BAA purchases sago from the local community to make sago flour and “Sago Mee” instant noodle.
This is the initial step for IFCC and PT. BAA in order to produce sustainable sago products, from the raw materials, the production process until the end products delivered to the customers. This step is necessary to build a success story of sago certification at Bangka so that sago certification can also be established and replicated in other regions in Indonesia. By getting certified, sago products will have more opportunity to reach international markets as sago plant is a renewable source and people nowadays are looking for more sustainable products as well as sustainable and renewable materials.
“It is expected that Bangka Belitung will be the first region in Indonesia to achieve sago certification,” said Sae’an, the Agricultural Financing Plantation Sector Analyst Department of Agriculture and Food Security Bangka Belitung Province, whom the IFCC met onsite during the visit to PT. BAA. He confirmed that the Department of Agriculture and Food Security Bangka Belitung Province will fully support the process of succeeding IFCC/PEFC certification for sago, especially in Bangka Island. Although sago is not the main commodity in Bangka Belitung, by implementing the certification, sago is expected to be the next potential and promising commodity as well as another alternative to improve the local community welfares in Bangka Belitung in the future.
Sources:
https://babelreview.co.id/pertama-di-indonesia-ifcc-hadir-di-babel-untuk-sertifikasi-tanaman-sagu