S Kalimantan pioneers cassia alata export to Japan

Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Gelangang leaves (cassia alata) become South Kalimantan's exports to Japan and make South Kalimantan the only province in Indonesia that exports these herbs. (Antaranews Kalsel/Yose Rizal)

South Kalimantan has become the pioneer and the only province in Indonesia that has exported Cassia Alata or senna alata (locally nown as daun gelinggang) with a destination of Japan worth tens of billions of rupiah.


The Head of the Quarantine Compliance, Cooperation and Information Center, Agriculture Quarantine Agency (Barantan) Sujarwanto in Banjarbaru on Saturday said the export of cassia alata, or ringworm shrub in English, was one of the contributors to foreign exchange.

"Only South Kalimantan has exported cassia alata leaves to Japan and has become one of the contributors to foreign exchange for the country," he said on the sidelines of the release of cassia alata leaf exports by PT Sarikaya Sega Utama Banjarbaru.

Data from the South Kalimantan Agriculture Quarantine Center said the export of herbal leaves to Sakura country took place since 2007. The first quarter of 2019 has been 16 times the export request has entered this quarantine.

He said, the frequency of exports was more than the first quarter of the last three years, namely 14 times in 2018, 8 times in 2017 then in 2016 only 4 times.

"Increased frequency of export requests because the procedure is no longer long and complicated. Everything is made easier according to the rules in addition to the requirements that are completed," he said

At present only one company exports cassia alata leaf, namely PT Sarikaya Sega Utama Banjarbaru, with the aim of Japan and the leaves being used as raw material for herbal medicines.

"The leaves have many benefits such as for phlegm treatment, malaria, canker sores, and laxatives. We are ready to promote it through agricultural attachés abroad," he said.