Bamboo caterpillar business prospecting in HST

Barabai, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - A resident of Central Hulu Sungai (HST) District, Tahmidillah (41), was successful in bamboo caterpillar (Erionota thrax or palm redeye or banana skipper) business. He became a distributor for the Banua Enam regions (HST, HSS, HSU, Tabalong, Balangan, and Tapin).

In other areas, bamboo caterpillars are usually used as food for birds, fish, and  reptiles. However, in South Kalimantan it is mostly used as fishing bait.

Bamboo caterpillars are mostly sought after among fishers, especially to fish sneakhead fish and climbing perch. However, this caterpillar is difficult to cultivate. Tahmidillah brought them from Java and Sumatra, then resold them to traders.

According to him, once supplying usually 2 to 4 thousands culm depending on the season. In rainy season two delivery in a month. The peak is in the middle of the year, in could be twice in a week.

Tahmidillah has been in this business since 2014. This resident of Pajukungan Village, Barabai Sub-district, is the only distributor of bamboo caterpillar in Banua Enam. 

"I also sell in bulk to traders of bait or fish feed," he said.

In 2021 alone, he could sell 80,000 bamboo culms (segments) at a price of Rp5,000 to Rp11,000 per segment with an average profit of Rp1.000 per segment. 

The number of caterpillars in each bamboo culm is between 20, 25 and 30. "The price and number of caterpllar depends on weather, during the rainy season it will be cheaper and more plentiful," said Tahmdillah.

According to him, caterpillar has become a profitable business. Of course, if you already have your own market.

"I used to start from scratch. Once I was cheated by supplier. I had sent the money, but the goods never delivered. That is the cycle of doing business, there profit and losses," he told.
 
He also had tried to cultivate himself, but always failed.

"My suppliers don't cultivate either, but they look them into the forest. I haven't foud any supplier whose bamboo caterpillars are cultivated," he said.

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