Essential Oil as Solok Municipality Main Commodity

Solok, (Antaranews Sumbar) - The Government of Solok Municipality, West Sumatra, still makes essential oil or aromatic oil as the city main commodity in 2018 by focusing on developing plants that produce it namely citronella and patchouli, Head of Agriculture and Fisheries Office Kusnadi accompanied by Head of Plantation Section Rini Meiliza stated in Solok, Thursday.

He explained the raw materials of essential oils such as lemongrass cereals are widely produced from planting centers in VI Suku village, Lubuk Sikarah sub-district, Kampung Jawa village, Laing Sub-district.

In 2017, the production of essential oil in Lubuk Sikarah Sub-district reached 122.5 tons and Tanjung Harapan 402.5 tons, with 525 tons from around 30 hectares of citronella garden.

While the production in 2016 reached 377 tons, compared to 2015 when volatile plant only produced 79 tons with plant area of 21.5 hectares.

"We have formed five farmer groups in the development of essential plants," he pointed.

In general, essential plants are needed and can be processed into various products including soap, sariwangi, clove leaf oil, perfume making materials, aromatic oil, and massage oil that can improve blood circulation, he explained.

In pharmaceuticals, he continued, essential oil-producing plant such as citronella can be made in fuel savings, but there is no management in Solok.

In 2018, it focuses on fostering farmers for plant maintenance and refinery operations, while in 2017 it has helped the provision of seeds to farmers.

In the distribution of sales, new essential oils are sent to Pondok, Padang for being exported to China and Europe. (cha)