Banyumas Regent Sadewo Tri Lastiono (right), accompanied by PT IMC Managing Director Mario Ngensowidjaja (center) and develoPPP Coconut Sugar GIZ GmbH Implementation Manager Dominik Schwab (left), delivers a press statement at Pendopo Si Panji in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, Central Java, Friday, January 30, 2026. (Source: ANTARA/Sumarwoto)


Banyumas, Central Java — The Banyumas Regency Government is accelerating the development of dwarf coconut plantations as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen the region’s position as a global export center for coconut sugar while improving the welfare and safety of traditional sap tappers.


Banyumas Regent Sadewo Tri Lastiono delivered the statement during the kickoff of the develoPPP Coconut Sugar Empowerment Project in collaboration with PT Integral Mulia Cipta (IMC). The event was held at Pendopo Si Panji in Purwokerto.


Banyumas Supplies Majority of Global Coconut Sugar


According to the Regent, coconut sugar has strong international market potential, with around 90 percent of global supply currently coming from Indonesia. Of that figure, approximately 80 percent is contributed by the Banyumas Raya region, which includes Banyumas, Cilacap, Purbalingga, and Banjarnegara regencies.


“This is an extraordinary opportunity. We are focusing on ensuring Banyumas becomes a leading export hub for coconut sugar in the future,” Sadewo said.


The develoPPP project is a collaborative initiative involving Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Funding support comes through GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and private sector partner PT IMC.


Higher Productivity, Lower Occupational Risk


The shift to dwarf coconut trees is expected to deliver significant economic and social benefits, particularly in reducing workplace accidents among sap tappers.


Sadewo noted that incidents involving tappers falling from tall coconut trees occur almost every month, often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.


“With dwarf coconut trees, which grow only about two to three meters high, the risk of falling is drastically reduced,” he said.


Traditionally, a tapper can harvest sap from about 25 tall coconut trees per day. With dwarf varieties, the same worker can manage up to 100 trees within the same working hours.


Although the sap volume from dwarf coconuts is estimated to be around 75 percent of that from tall trees, overall income can increase up to threefold due to higher efficiency. The quality of coconut sugar produced from dwarf coconuts also meets export standards, officials said.


The Banyumas administration has prepared 625 hectares of land for dwarf coconut cultivation, with an estimated requirement of 125 seedlings per hectare.


Supporting Sustainability and Food Security


PT IMC Managing Director Mario Ngensowidjaja described the revitalization of the coconut sugar industry in Banyumas as a strategic move to strengthen national food resilience and maintain Indonesia’s competitiveness in global markets.


He pointed to several industry challenges, including the lack of standardized production systems, limited mechanization, and a declining number of farmers due to aging labor and high occupational risks.


“Farmers are getting older, trees are getting taller, and workplace accidents remain high. These are serious issues that must be addressed,” Mario said.


Dominik Schwab, Implementation Manager for the develoPPP Coconut Sugar Project at GIZ, explained that Germany’s involvement aligns with two major objectives of German–Indonesian cooperation: mitigating climate change impacts and strengthening economic partnerships.


“We aim to make the coconut sugar supply chain in Banyumas more environmentally sustainable while also improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers,” Schwab said.


The project includes improvements in cultivation practices, a gradual transition from tall to dwarf coconut varieties, and the adoption of more productive and environmentally friendly agricultural methods.


PT IMC has been exporting coconut sugar from Banyumas to European markets, particularly Germany, for years, making the region a key supplier in the global organic sweetener industry.