RRI.CO.ID, Agam - Cinnamon (Cinnamomum) from farmers affected by the flash floods that occurred at the end of November 2025 in Malalak Subdistrict, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, has managed to break into the European market.

"Cinnamon bark from Malalak is sold to Bukittinggi and then exported to Europe and Malaysia," said Roni, a cinnamon bark collector in Jorong Toboh, Nagari Malalak Timur, Malalak Subdistrict, Agam Regency, on Sunday, February 22, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The price of this spice, which is widely used in baking, beverages, and cooking, is currently determined by its moisture content, at the farmer level. The lowest price for one kilogram of cinnamon is IDR 30,000 and the highest is IDR 40,000 per kilogram.

"The best grade of cinnamon still contains moisture, and the highest price at the farmer level right now is IDR 37,000 per kilogram," he added.

Currently, Roni has around 2.5 tons of cinnamon ready to be sell to Bukittinggi City before shipping it to Europe or Malaysia. Sales to exporters are usually determined by demand from foreign markets.

When the flash floods hit Malalak Subdistrict on November 26, 2025, Roni admitted that he was unable to buy or sell cinnamon for a month. Not only was the road route between Malalak and Bukittinggi City completely cut off, but cinnamon farmers were also unable to harvest the spice crop. He claims that the local residents were still primarily concentrating on rescue operations and looking for missing victims, a month following the tragedy.

According to Andri Yandra, a cinnamon farmer, prior the COVID-19 pandemic, the price of cinnamon might have reached IDR 50,000 per kilogram. The price, though, has fallen sharply to IDR 24,000 per kilogram, since the outbreak.

According to him, the acquisition price of cinnamon fell short of farmers' expectations, because it takes between seven to 15 years for the cinnamon bark to be harvested. "The price is only about Rp 30,000 when we sell it, but we have to wait 15 years before we can harvest."

He expressed hope that the government will pay attention to the selling price of cinnamon at the farmer level through the relevant agencies. In addition to rice cultivation, cinnamon is one of the community's primary means of subsistence. ***