0 MPIG pushes for product certification

Several agricultural commodities and handicraft from Bali could obtain a certificate of Geographical Indication, meaning they would be acknowledged for their excellence. Society for the Protection of Geographical Indication (MPIG) head Surip Mawardi said the recommended products included cashew nuts from Kubu, Karangasem; mangosteens from Pupuan, Tabanan; and salt from Amed, Karangasem, due to its unique production method and good iodine content. 

For handicraft, Surip said silver jewelry from Celuk, Gianyar, consisted of motifs that made it different from silver from other areas. So far, only 20 Indonesian products have been certified, including Kintamani coffee in 2008. “We continue to encourage local governments to identify excellent products from their respective areas for certification. This is one effort to preserve and enhance the competitiveness of commodities and appreciate the local residents who produce it,” said Surip, who is also an expert with the Indonesian Coffee and Cacao Research Center. 

He explained the MPIG team hoped many Indonesian products could be certified, but that local governments lacked the initiative to register the products for certification. The MPIG is only able to help register five products annually due to its limited budget. “We hope local governments are willing to register their products with their own budgets,” he said. According to Surip, the certification process includes selecting a verification team. Once all requirements have been fulfilled, it takes two to three hours to complete. 

He also explained that being certified required commitment to maintain it from all stakeholders, based on standard operating procedures. The MPIG will also conduct regular evaluations to ensure the quality of the products. “The certification could be annulled if the requirements are not fulfilled,” Surip said, adding the certification affected product performance in the global market. The MPIG is also researching products recommended for certification, including the cashew nut from Kubu. 

“This product has a big chance of receiving the certification. We’ve conducted a field visit and are now completing the research. The results will be announced by March,” he said. Made Tresna Kumara, head of the data and research division with the provincial plantation agency, said his office registered the cashew nut with the MPIG for certification in November last year. 

Local communities have also been prepared for the assessment process since 2012, including giving information to farmers, mapping the area and conducting lab checks to analyze the contents. Kumara acknowledged that Kubu had been the center of cashew nut production in Bali, with the plantation owners practicing organic farming for years.

source : bali daily