Batang Youth Turn Colonial-Era Coffee into Dutch Export Commodity

RRI.CO.ID, Batang - Coffee plants inherited from the colonial era in Bawang Village, Batang Regency, Central Java Province have officially transformed into a world-class export commodity. Through the initiative of local youth organized under the Forest Village Community Institution (LMDH) Argo Lestari, processed Bawang coffee beans are now routinely shipped to the Dutch market, reaching tens of tons per month.

The movement was spearheaded by LMDH Argo Lestari in Bawang Village. The figure behind this initiative is Wasturi (56), a Local Champion and local community leader who has consistently mentored the younger generation in developing the potential of local coffee, successfully establishing popular rest stops, Sapta Wening Cafe and Curug Genting Coffee.

"This idea was actually planned since early 2014, before finally being fully executed in 2018 through massive seedling planting in areas at an altitude of 1,000 to 1,200 meters above sea level (MASL). Relocating the village to build the village, by planting coffee left behind by the Dutch and developed by the youth," he said when met in Bawang Village, Blado Subdistrict, Batang Regency on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

The initiative was warmly welcomed by the local younger generation. Currently, coffee cultivation has become a new breath for forest village youth. Many young people have planted coffee, nearly one hamlet or 50 youth within the forest village community.

Through a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) with Perum Perhutani's Forest Management Unit (KPH) Pekalongan, which has been in place for two years, the management of 182 hectares of land continues to be optimized. Currently, out of the total area, approximately 60 hectares have been fully planted, with harvest productivity reaching 4 tons per hectare.

"The taste and superiority of this Bawang coffee processing lie in its post-harvest process," said Wasturi, emphasizing that their products meet high quality standards.

"The special thing is that the robusta is cleaner and more refined," he added.

This prime quality has enabled LMDH Argo Lestari's products to penetrate foreign markets. Since starting exports in 2022, demand from international markets has surged sharply. Export demand to the Netherlands stands at 10 tons per month. By the end of this year, there is a target of 40 tons specifically for Arabica and Robusta varieties.

The farmer group's rapid progress would not have been possible without the support of the Bank Indonesia Tegal Representative Office (KPw BI Tegal), which has been overseeing their development since 2020. Head of BI Tegal Representative Agency, Bimala, explained that the mentoring is conducted in a structured manner according to needs and the upstream-to-downstream development roadmap of the farmer group.

"First, we identify their individual needs, including MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) development plans. During the initial stages of coffee cultivation and cafe establishment, we provided infrastructure and training to improve coffee quality. Training ranged from cultivation to processing, bringing in experts to come here," he explained, as quoted by infopublik.id.

"Not stopping at the production chain, BI Tegal also facilitates marketing through regular business matching schemes. After production, the coffee products must be sold. We assist through business matching, both directly such as at Java Coffee Culture previously, and other business matching," he asserted. ***