“This factory was built to support the development of porang plant's potential and to produce porang flour,” Haerul Warisin said during the inauguration ceremony in East Lombok on Thursday.
He explained that the factory is part of the local government’s efforts to improve the welfare of farmers and the community.
Porang (Amorphophallus muelleri) is a type of tuber plant native to Indonesia, known for its high content of glucomannan, a water-soluble dietary fiber.
The tubers are processed into flour used in various food products such as shirataki noodles and jelly, as well as in the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors.
“In the past, porang was often considered a neglected wild plant, but now it has become a commodity with a price surpassing rice, reaching Rp11 thousand per kilogram,” he said.
He expressed hope that porang farmers in NTB would no longer have to sell their harvests outside the region through brokers but instead supply raw materials directly to the porang factory.
“This factory will purchase at adjusted prices. If someone sells at Rp7 thousand, we buy at Rp8 thousand. If they sell at Rp9 thousand, we buy at Rp10 thousand per kilogram,” he said.
The local government plans to allocate funds in 2026 for porang seed purchases to support the expansion of cultivation areas.
This reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring the factory’s raw material supply and positioning porang as one of East Lombok’s key economic pillars.
“With the operation of this factory, it is expected that porang farmers will be more motivated in cultivation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the East Lombok District Industry Office, Azlan, said the factory was built with funding support from the Ministry of Industry’s Special Allocation Fund (DAK) and the regional budget (APBD), making it a well-equipped facility.
“In addition to a production area, the factory also has a storage warehouse, drying machines, and a laboratory,” he said.
To ensure smooth operations, the local government has partnered with a private company that will purchase the processed porang products.
“East Lombok has great potential in porang development. This commodity holds very high economic value, both for the domestic and export markets,” he said.
Related news: East Java offers to export porang, bird's nests to China
Related news: Do not force regions to cultivate non-native crops: President
Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Arie Novarina
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
