Lampung, September 30, 2021 – The Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (Menkop UKM), Teten Masduki, officially inaugurated the first export of Mas bananas to Singapore, alongside the symbolic handover of cattle assistance to farmers fostered by PT Great Giant Pineapple (GGP) in Tanggamus, Lampung. The hybrid event was part of efforts to improve farmer welfare and support economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this initial shipment, 144 boxes of Mas bananas were released for export. At the same time, 10 cattle were handed over to partnership farmers of the Green Makmur Farmer Producer Cooperative, located in Margodadi Village, Sumber Rejo District, Tanggamus.
The ceremony was attended by Tanggamus Regent Dewi Handayani, Deputy for Cooperatives Ahmad Zabadi, and the Governor of Lampung, represented by Acting Assistant for Economy and Development Kusnardi. Also present were representatives from the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, cooperative leaders, and local farmers.
Minister Teten Masduki praised the cooperative’s milestone achievement, noting that the partnership between Green Makmur Cooperative and PT GGP ensures access to high-quality banana seeds, good governance, standardized packaging, consistent fruit quality, and reliable market access.
Echoing this, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Harvick Hasnul Qolbi emphasized that such export initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to strengthening farmer capacity and fostering corporate partnerships.
From the corporate side, Welly Soegiono, Corporate Affairs Director of PT GGP, revealed that Mas banana cultivation has expanded to 450 hectares, involving 850 partnership farmers.
“What started with small-scale assistance has now grown into a sustainable collaboration, thanks to the synergy between cooperatives, local, and provincial governments,” Welly said.
Bananas play a vital role in Indonesia’s agricultural exports. According to BPS 2018, bananas are the country’s second-largest foreign exchange contributor among fruits, valued at USD 14.6 million (approx. IDR 204 billion). Even during the pandemic, productivity in Lampung remained strong, reflecting the resilience of farming communities working on both private and social forestry lands.
With this milestone, PT GGP continues to strengthen its role in supporting national export growth while empowering local farmers through sustainable partnerships.
