Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia during His Visit to Porang (Konjac) Processing Factory PT Asia Prima Konjac in Madiun Regency, East Java Province, 19 August 2021

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

This afternoon, I come to Madiun Regency to visit konjac processing factory owned by PT Asia Prima and in my view, the processing in this factory gives good added value, especially for farmers. I asked (the farmers) earlier, how much one hectare of konjac plant can produce? They said that it can produce 15-20 tons.

Furthermore, if we calculate per growing season, it can reach Rp40 million in 8 months. The value is high and the market is still wide open. We know that konjac will be a future healthy food since it is low in calories, carbs, and sugar, sugar free. It will be a healthier substitute for rice because it is very low in sugar.

I have ordered Minister of Agriculture to seriously develop konjac as a new commodity. We should export it in form of half-finished goods, such as konjac flour, instead of as raw materials. And we will export it in form of finished goods, namely konjac rice next year, insyaallah.

That concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion.

I thank you

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh. (GH/MMB)