Energy needs have always been a hindrance to the development of an industry, including the integrated coconut industry. In the previous section the integrated coconut industry could be run by utilizing their coir/fiber waste as fuel (read
here), with the main product being coconut fruit itself. Another alternative to the integrated coconut industry is the production of coconut sugar, because the need for sweeteners is still very large. Whereas if coconut oil for oil production such as cooking oil is currently unable to compete with palm oil derived from CPO, even though coconut oil has its own advantages. Coconut sugar production uses the raw material of coconut roomie, and when coconut roomie is taken then the coconut fruit is not produced from the coconut tree or the coconut tree does not bear fruit. When coconut sugar production is more profitable, coconut sugar production becomes the main product of the integrated coconut industry.
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| Coconut sugar |
In 2016 Indonesia became the largest sugar importer in the world with a value of $ 2.1 billion or around Rp.28.4 trillion. The value of Indonesia's imports was greater than the three other importing countries whose populations were actually greater than those of Indonesia, namely the United States ($ 1.9 billion), China ($ 1.2 billion) and India ($ 922 million). Whereas in the colonial era, Indonesia was once the largest producer and exporter of sugar. The need for sugar is very large it should be substituted with coconut sugar which in some ways is better than cane sugar. In the food industry coconut sugar or brown sugar has advantages over other sources of sweeteners such as sugar from sugar cane. That is because the brown sugar or coconut sugar contains other elements such as aroma and distinctive physical properties whose effects on a food production cannot be replaced by other sweetener sources.
The use of coconut sugar ranging from kitchen herbs to various types of food from households, small industries to large industries. Indonesia's current coconut sugar production is estimated at around 500,000 tons / year and is expected to increase as the potential for coconut sugar replaces the very high shortage of sugar cane, as mentioned above. Even a number of large industries in Indonesia such as Unilever, ABC, and Indofood have great interest in the development of coconut sugar. These companies which are also big soy sauce producers apparently need coconut sugar for their soy sauce production which is estimated to reach 70 thousand tons / year.
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| Integration Coconut Sugar Industry with Gliricidae Plantation |
For the energy needs of coconut sugar production can be done by planting gliricidae between coconut plantations or as intercrops. Gliricidae is a fast rotation plant that can grow anywhere and is most optimal in the lowlands. Gliricidae is also a crop so that no need replanting after harvesting the wood for about fifteen years. And because gliricidae is a leguminocea plant, its roots can bind nitrogen from the atmosphere which fertilizes the soil and its leaves are also rich in protein so it is very good for livestock such as sheep, goats and cows. The practice of coconut plantations with intercropping of gliricidae has been carried out in Sri Lanka hundred years and the coconut industry is developing well there.
With the plantation pattern as above, besides producing coconut sugar, it can operate because energy sources are available, it is also very potential with the integration of ruminant farms above and also honey bees. When the animal husbandry is integrated, land potential can be optimized and manure from the farm can be used as organic fertilizer for the coconut plantation. In addition, among the coconut trees and gliricidae, with the grass including them can also be used for pasture such as sheep, cattle or both. Grass from pasture fields can be used as the main feed of the sheep or cattle and gliricidae leaves as additional feed. With the combination of a number of coconut sugar based businesses, the production of coconut sugar can be done anywhere and gives maximum profit. Insha Allah
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