N. Tapanuli, N. Sumatra (ANTARA News) - The Sigararutang coffee from North Tapanuli district, North Sumatra province, is now able to reach the international market, a spokesman of PT.Sumatra Specialty Coffees (SSC) Siborongborong, Ahmad Lopes, said here, Thursday.

"PT.SSC, now exports up to 200 tons of Sigararutang coffee to the United States every month," he said.

According to him, the coffee dominated the plantations of the coffee growers in North Tapanuli , Toba Samosir, Humbang Hasundutan and Dairi districts.

Lopes said, every month the company buys about 200 tons of coffee for export to various countries through Belawan port, including to Starbucks company in the United States which is the largest export destination.

"Almost 80 percent of raw material exports came from North Tapanuli plantations purchased from a number of farmers under the supervision of PT.SSC in a cooperative," he explained.

Lopes said, the purchase price of coffee from the farmers ranges from Rp290 thousand per ton depending on the quality.

"The best quality coffee could reach Rp290 thousand per ton, plus a bonus of 200 per liter for the coffee farmers who are registered as a customer," Lopes noted.

He said, PT.SSC has made a cooperation contract with Starbucks in the United States.

The Sigararutang coffee plantations in North Tapanuli covered 20,000 hectares with an average production of nine tons per hectare. The commodity is grown by more than 9,000 families.

Meanwhile, the damaged coffee crops or unproductive ones reached only around 300 hectares.
(T.KR-LWA/H-NG/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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