REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Nilam is one of Aceh's leading export products preferred by the world. The quality of patchouli from Indonesia is reputed to be the best for perfume blends. This keeps the patchouli industry in Indonesia pacified for export purposes.

Recently, the Cooperative Producers Innovation Producers Nilam Aceh (Inovac) in synergy with PT Nat' Green formed a subsidiary of PT uGreen Aromatics International (UGreen) to export 1.2 tons of raw materials for making patchouli oil and nutmeg perfumes worth Rp 1 billion to France.

The export release of patchouli oil and nutmeg was unveiled by Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (MenkoPukM) Teten Masduki at Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), Aceh.

“Cooperatives routinely export patchouli oil to France every three months. Capacity at the new farmer level was capable of producing as much as 1 ton of patchouli oil, and it was only newly supplied from existing farmers in Gayo. Meanwhile, farmers in other regions have not been able to get enough,” said Inovac Cooperative Chairman Nadia in a statement in Jakarta, Sunday (10/12/2023).

Nadia said, demand for raw materials to France amounted to 6 tons. However, the production of farmers incorporated in Inovac Cooperative has not been able to meet the need, because most farmers still lack of capital for patchouli cultivation.

For this reason, it hopes that the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (Kemenkop UKM) through the Rolling Fund Distributing Institution (LPDB) -KUMKM, will help farmers with the financing so that the export needs of patchouli oil to France can bef fulfill.

Although it was only formed in 2019, Cooperative Inovac was able to achieve a turnover of up to Rp 200 million per month obtained from the sale of patchouli oil, nutmeg seeds to essential oils, as well as derived products ranging from perfumes, essential oils, body butter, body mist, and others.

On the same occasion, Director of Atsiri Research Center (ARC) Shaifullah Muhammad said ARC as a research and development institute. Including also providing training and guidance to Inovac Cooperative for the management of patchouli oil until the birth of some of its derivative products.

According to Syaifullah, in recent years the patchouli industry in Aceh has almost gone extinct. Even what used to be 55 percent of the national market fell to 35 percent overall.

“Because the best patchouli oil is in Aceh. With this reality, then we intervene with innovation and teach it to society. From nurseries to patchouli oil refining, as well as shaping its ecosystem by forming cooperatives together with USK,” he said.

Syaifullah further explained that patchouli oil raw materials exported from Aceh have the best quality. So it's no wonder the perfume industry in France uses this material. In fact, he added, patchouli oil is not only processed into perfumes but also cosmetic products to health (pharmaceutical), because it has anti-aging content in it.

“Today, together with Inovac Cooperative, we not only send raw materials for export, but also process and produce them ourselves. Of each patchouli oil production, we always set aside 20 percent of the production for the country and 80 percent of it is taken to the export market. About 30 products we have produced for the domestic market,” he said.

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