Sarilamak (ANTARA) - Thousand tons of gambir produced by farmers in Limapuluh Kota Regency, W Sumatra, are still stacked inside warehouses owned by the agents of these commodities because they could not exports to India due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
One gambir agent in LimapuluhKota Regency, Sepdi Tito in Sarilamak, said on Tuesday that there are currently 1,000 tons of gambier stacked up inside his warehouse.
"Even though gambir has stacked up inside the warehouse, I still buy it to the farmers because the farmers do not have income," he said.
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With the current conditions, he and other agents have the same condition, their gambir still stacked up inside the warehouse.
Therefore gambir purchased by his side only specialized for permanent members, because he considers the lives of gambier farmers, especially in this COVID-19 pandemic situation.
If this condition continues for a long time he cannot be sure to continue to buy the gambier from farmers.
He said that if lockdown in India was over, gambier exports could be normal again.
“the economic conditions in india cannot be ascertained after lockdown, does India stiil can import gambir or not," he said.
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With the unclear marketing of gambir to India, agents were forced to buy gambir with low price from farmers. Some even have to buy at a price of Rp. 13 thousand or Rp. 14 thousand per kilogram.
"If it is dry it can be bought for Rp. 18 thousand. But if it is wet, the lowest is Rp. 13 thousand. With this price, it can only be used for their daily needs," he said.
A gambir farmer from Simpang Kapuak, Mungka Subdistrict, LimapuluhKota Regency, Ide said that the low price of gambir now makes his income reduced and is not sufficient for daily needs.
"Because of the decline in the price of gambir, my income is only Rp. 280 thousand to Rp. 300 thousand per week because I only produce 20 kg of gambir every week.
Transleted by: Mutiara Ramadhani
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