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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 10, No. 3
Publication Date: June 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/aivp.103.12276. Leunufna, S. (2022). Development of Maluku Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.): Collaborations, Opportunities and Challenges.
European Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Development of Maluku Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.):
Collaborations, Opportunities and Challenges
Semuel Leunufna
Center for the Conservation of Maluku’s Biodiversity (CCMB),
Faculty of Agriculture Pattimura University Ambon
ABSTRACT
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) is one of the few commoditites from Indonesia,
especially Maluku islands, which are highly demended in international market for
centuries and is the base of an international trading route known as “spice route”
where Banda “spice island’, Maluku as the center. This study aimed at elaborating
the development of nutmeg commodity in its center of origination and cultivation.
Data were acquired during implementation of the Blended Learning-Value Chain
project, a joint project between Indonesia and Netherlands, nutmeg innovation
platform activities, as well as literature research and assessment. Efforts in nutmeg
development in Maluku are implemented in inclusive and sustainable manner
through collaboration of different institutions and stake holders along the value
chain system of nutmeg commodity. Indentification of opportunities, challenges
and problems togather with the way of dealing with them are carried out to be
further implemented the findings in the field. Suatainable development is
persieved in term of environment and biodiversity, humanity especially related to
indigenous community, and continuing profitability and therefore developing a
sustainable living.
INTORDUCTION
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.), one out of a few spice commodities from Indonesia, are the
trigger of development of the world trading sail route called “spcice route” since centuries ago
with Banda or spice island as the center. The spice road, in turn, becomes the foundation of
development of various living sectors including economy as well as science. In the modern era
of 21st century, nutmeg is still produced in its center of origin and cultivation; however, it is no
more the only producer and exporter of nutmeg products. A number of countries have been
the competitors in world’s nutmeg exports (Table 1). Similarly, in Indonesia, several provinces
have emerged into nutmeg producers even exceed that of Maluku Islands (province) (Figure 1).
Meanwhile in Maluku province, the spice island (Banda), which siruated in the Central Maluku
Regency is no more the only nutmeg producing area; the whole province or 11 regencies in
Maluku are now the nutmeg producers in the province (Table 2).
With the increase of competition in nutmeg production and export, increase in marked demand
for high quality products, the required quality standards applied to nutmeg products is also
increased and have been the cause of many cases of refusal of nutmeg products from Indonesia
in international market, especially due to aflatoxin contamination, poisons produced by fungi
mostly of Asperglud flavus and A. paraciticus.
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European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 10, Issue 3, June-2022
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Development, in many aspects including an agricultural commodity, in recent understanding,
requires a tied collaboration among related parties or stake holders such as government,
education and research, and business institutions, which is then extended to community and
press. A concept, well known as triple helix – quintuple helix is closely relatedto development
in the context of value chain, a newly developed scientific branch of economic science dealing
with the movement of a product or service right from its conception to production, merketing,
consumption and recycling of the by products, in which, every component or player involved,
collaborates to improve the value of the product at every stage of value chain.
Intensive efforts in nutmeg development in Maluku provinve in recent years have been
accomplished in inclusive and sustainable manners involving various related institutions
within the nutmeg’s value chain, i. e. inclusion of different scientific specialties (agronomy, post
harvest technology, agribusiness), business scales (micro, small, medium and big
enterpreneurs), area of operations (local, regional, national, international), and at the same
time, paying attention on sustaining the environment, human and business profit.
In the implementation stage, it is required to indentify opportunities, challenges and problems
encountered followed by proposing ways of utilizing the opportunity, facing the challenges and
dealing with problems, and continuously indentifying new opportunities, challenges and
problems to move further ahead.
This paper deals with the development of nutmeg commodity in Maluku islands in recent years
covering collaborations among various institutions on the nutmeg’s value chain as well as
identification of opportunities, challenges and problems faced in the development.
METHODOLOGY
This paper was developed through experiences of implementing an international joint project,
in which teaching, seminars/webinars, research and field visitations and discussions with
different related parties or players in agricultural value chain specifically on a number of spice
and food crop commodities specific to Maluku islands, were carried out. The parties involved
covered farmers and farmer’s group, collecting traders, family business companies,
government isntitutions or policy makers, educational institutions, research and assessments
institutions, in the scale of local, regional, national and international. It was also developed
through brain-stormings, presentations, discussions on various aspects related to nutmeg’s
development during meetings of Maluku Nutmeg Innovation Paltform, a platform established
as a way of following up or institusionalisation of Blended Learning - Value Chain (BLVC) Joint
project after the project’s termination. More over, the paper was developed through literature
research and assessment.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Recent Situation on the production and trading of Nutmeg commodity; International,
National and Local
Data of World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) (2019) pointed out that in the year 2019, there
were 84 nutmeg exporting countries with Indonesia being the highest, exporting 16,558.800
kg in a value of 85.918, 23 million US$. The highest exporting countries were dominated by
Asian continent followed by European (Table 1). Nutmeg importing countries in 2019 were
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Leunufna, S. (2022). Development of Maluku Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.): Collaborations, Opportunities and Challenges. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12276
142 with five highest were European Union, Germany, USA, Netherlands and China (Table 1).
Analysis of competitiveness in nutmeg’s export among five biggest world exporters during
2007 – 2016 (Asrol dan Herianto, 2017) concluded that Indobnesia has the strongest
competitiveness in the international market.
At the national level, nutmeg production of Indonesia in 2020 reached 27,4 thousand tons with
North Maluku province at the first position producing 8, 56 thousand tons (Biro Pusat Statistik,
2020, Figure 1). North Maluku province was formerly belong to Maluku Province while Maluku
province where the spice Island Banda situated, ranked third with the production of 5,86 tons
following Aceh provinve with 6,4 thousand tons (Figure 1).
Maluku province produced 5512, 10 tons of nutmeg from community plantations in the year
2017 out of 28360 farmers and 31624.10 ha growing area (Table 2). Nutmeg has been a
commodity cultivated in all regenies/municipalities in Maluku province, not only in the spice
island, Banda, which administratively situated in the Central Maluku Regency. Dispite being
the highest in total production in the province, Central Maluku Regency was slightly behind in
production per hectare in comparison to that of Ambon and Tual municipalities (Table 2). A
number of factors could be the cause of the discrepancy. Short distance to related government
institutions in the cities (Tual and Ambon), which are the capital of the municipality and
therefore agricultural aids and services may be one of them, while the disparities in
productions within farmers in the regency, which relatively has bigger planting area in addition
to cultivation problems and condition of nutmeg trees maybe other reason.
Nutmeg’s trading situations in Indonesia in recent years has been merked by the rejection of
export products due to inability to meet the food health and savety standarsds as a result of
aflatoxin intoxication produced by fungy of the genus Aspergilus especially A. flavus and A.
parasiticus (Hafif, 2021; Fauziah dan Zurayah, 2013). Out of 54 rejection cases during 2014 to
2016 in the international market especially Europea Union, USA and Japan, 40 cases were of
micotoxin –aflatoxin contamination, 13 others were of incomplete documents and one case of
cleanness (Rahayu et al., 2020).
Table 1. Five biggest nutmeg exporting and importing countries in the world in 2019.
No. Country Export Import
Total Amount
(kg)
Value (Mill.
US$)
Total Amount
(kg)
Value (Mill.
US$)
1. Indonesia 16,558,800 85,918.23 - -
2. India 2,489,870 15,995.38 - -
3. Sri Lanka 2,657,970 14,450.16 - -
4. Netherlands 1,262,040 13,020.86 - -
5. Vietnam 1,514,890 12,716.79 - -
1. European
Union
- - 4,899,670 37,817.47
2. Germany - - 1,807,900 16,817.72
3. USA - - 2,134,110 14,728.16
4. Netherlands - - 1,522,140 11,551.94
5.. China - - 2,398,130 10,973.77
Source: Word Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) (2019).
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Table 2. Land area and production of nutmeg community plantation in Maluku in the year
2017.
Regency/Municipality Area (Ha) Number of Farmers
(Familiy’s head)
Production
(Ton)
Production/Ha
(kg)
South East West Maluku 13.00 50.00 1.90 146.15
South East Maluku 2769.30 1536.00 457.90 165.35
Central Maluku 11155.40 14521.00 2134.10 191.31
Buru 942.30 557.00 111.20 118.01
Aru Islands 23.00 26.00 4.00 173.91
West Seram 2299.50 826.00 251.10 109.20
East Seram 8831.00 6695.00 1287.20 145.76
South West Maluku 1510.40 1260.00 84.40 55.88
South Buru 2218.80 1600.00 413.40 186.32
Ambon 1763.00 989.00 746.10 423.20
Tual 98.40 300.00 20.80 211.38
Maluku Province 31624.10 28360.00 5512.10 174.30
Source : Maluku Department of Agriulture (Maluku Province in Numbers)
Figure 1. Ten biggest nutmeg producing provinces in Indonesia in the year 2020.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (2020)
Collaborations for nutmeg’s development in Maluku
Value Chain and trading system before and after the presence of exporting family business
companies
Nutmeg cultivation and production have been well developed since many years in all of the
regencies and municipalities in Maluku province (Table 2). Without any otganized trading
system, nutmeg farmers are free to sell their products to any party; village collecting traders or
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Leunufna, S. (2022). Development of Maluku Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.): Collaborations, Opportunities and Challenges. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12276
county collecting traders (Bustaman, 2007). The village collecting traders and county collecting
traders then sell their nutmeg products further to consumen or to exporting traders (Bustaman,
2007; Leunupun dan Turukai, 2019: Lawalata, 2019; Lating, 2021). Trading system which is
not well organized usually resulted in uneven profit distribution which mainly unfair for the
farmers since the difference between farmer’s price and consumer or exporting trader’s price
(margin price) is usually very high.
During that time period, nutmeg development was isolated or separated among segmented
roles or necessity of different parties or components/players involved in its value chain.
Farmers cultivate, produce and prepare the products for marketing; collecting traders purchase
the products without having to understand or interfere with the farmer’s affairs; post-harvest
business enterpreneurs implement post-harvest technology and adding values to products
available, consumers utilize the product without any concern about recycling of by-products
and so on. For example; during a telephone conversation, a collecting trader indicated that the
mace she bought from a farmer was probably contaminated with aflatoxin, but further
indicated that the quality of fully is the responsibility of farmers and not bayers or collecting
traders.
In the periode of recent years, a umber of small family business enterprises in Maluku province
(Fig. 2) were established, which collect nutmeg proucts from famers from different cultivation
centers and further exporting the products overseas especially to Europe (Netherlands) and
lately to China. The companies were PT. Ollop family business based in Hila Kaitetu Village
Central Maluku Regency (nowadays PT. Ollop is no more in operation), Kamboti Pusaka Maluku
Family Business, station in Laha Village, Ambon Municipality which further developed into
Kamboty Spice Maluku stasioned in Gudang Arang Ambon and Maenusu, station in Laha
Ambon. These family businesses collaborate with European trading institutions especially of
the Netherlands such as Tasane Maluku business community in the Netherlands, Verstagen
family business, one of the biggest spice exporting company in the world today, as well as NGO’s
and experts, in matters related to consulting, training, research and development as well as
export. In terms of working relationship with nutmeg farmers, there has been involvement of
family business enterprices in efforts to improve the quality of planting system and the
products specifically in Hilla-Kaitetu and surrounding villages. This situation was elaborated
by Hatunia et al. (2016) in a model of patron and client, in which patron (PT Ollop) buy the
nutmeg products from client (farmers) with a higher price than that of collecting traders of
village, municipality of city collecting traders, providing training and seeds to the farmers,
promoting organic certification, establishing farmer’s cooperative as well as donating to
community’s social activities in the Hilla-Kaitetu and surrounding villages.
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Figure 2. Up-grading of facilities to improve nutmeg products’ qualities (a-c) and products
preparation for export (d-e) at the family business enterprise in Maluku. Source: Mr. Frits
Blessing, Maluku Living Laboratoty NGO (c-e).
Trading flow of nutmeg products as mapped by Kamboty Pusaka Maluku Business Company is
shown in Fig. 3. Kamboti Pusaka Maluku business company purchase nutmeg products from
the farmers of Leihitu, West Leihitu, Salahutu, Ambon Bay, South Leitimur regions of Ambon
Island and farmers of Ceram, Haruku (masohi, Piru and Bula), Saparua and Banda islands
indirectly through village or county collecting traders. In addition to trading to kamboty Pusaka
Maluku Company, the collecting traders also trade the nutmeg products to provincial collecting
traders or to other cities and provinces such as Surabaya, Jakarta and Bitung with the use of
sailing service of Indonesia National Sailing Company (PELNI) or other sailing services (Fig. 3).
The marketing or purchasing price, as experienced by Kamboty Pusaka Maluku Business was
unstable dua to the absence of regulation on Maluku nutmeg’s trading system.
With regards to export to the Netherlands (Rotterdam), nutmeg products are transported to
Surabaya from Yos Sudarso ship port in Ambon, in order to carry out a number of analyses,
receive fumigatioan and aquire of certain documents before further shipping to Singapore and
continued to importing country (Netherlands) covering a period of 12 weeks. Stopping by in
Surabaya or Jakarta, spending 3-4 weeks time period is needed due to the absence of infra- structures and supporting facilities legally acknowledge by the importing country such as
laboratory for Aflatoxin analyses, fumigator and ship operators (Lating, 2021).
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Leunufna, S. (2022). Development of Maluku Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.): Collaborations, Opportunities and Challenges. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12276
Figure 3. Trading flow chart in Ambon Island and surrounding areas of nutmeg (Myristica
fragrans Houtt.) according to Kamboty Spice Maluku. Source: Re-draw after Lating (2021)
The Blended Learning-Value Chain (BLVC) Project
The concept of agricultural development in inclusive and sustainable manner was iniciated at
the Faculty of Agricultura Pattimura University through a joint project of Indonesia and
Netherlands named “Setting Up a Blended Learning Program for Sustainable Inclusive
Agricultural Value Chain Development in Indonesia” (Blended Learning-Value Chain). The
project accomplished two main tasks; first establish and implement a blended learning
program, which is a hybrid between convensional, face to face learning system and internet
learning system, and second develop and implement a teaching module of agricultural value
chain analysis, a newly developed scientific branch of economic science, as the substance of the
above blended learning program. Characters of the developed value chain course and research
are inclusive and sustainable. Inclusive was implemented in terms of scientific specialty
(inclusion of Agronomy, Post harvest technology and Agribusiness Department and study
programs), in terms of business scale and operational region include in its implementation
(inclusion of micro, small, medium and big businesses at local, regional, national and
international levels) and organizational affiliation (government and non-government
organizations). The sustainability character is implemented in thee aspects; sustainable in
terms of environent including biodiversity, sustainable in terms of people, community
including the use of human and animal labours, and sustainable in terms of profit through the
improvements in every single chain in the value chain of i. e. an Agricultural commodity
(Leunufna et al., 2021 a, b).
Nutmeg was one of the five target commodities of the project in terms of teaching and
researching and in its implementations; the project has supported student’s research in banda
and Ambon Islands on value chain of nutmeg commodity, encouraged researches on target
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commodities at the Department of Agribusiness, Post-Harvest Technology, Agronomy and Plant
Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture Pattimura University. Studies were also conducted by a
number of scientists and practitioners at different institutions and were composed as a
reference book for further teaching and learning on Agricultural Value Chain Analyses course.
The research and scienfic papers were presented in two seminars and one final webinar of the
BLVC project (Leunufna et al., 2021 a, b Fig. 4).
The joint project BLVC was completed by a number of institutions at the local, national, and
international levels with Agrofair Company, Netherlands as the general manager, faculty of
Agriculture Pattimura University as the beneficiary, Maastricht School of Management the
Netherlands and Bogor Agricultural University as counterparts, and the Netherlands
Organization for Internationalisation of Education (NUFFIC) as the main source of funding.
Later in the development, several other institutions take part in the value chain teaching and
researching including Institution for Agricultural Technology Assessment (BPPT) Maluku,
Kamboti Pusaka Maluku family business, Maluku Businiss Community Tasane, Netherlands, as
guest lecturers, researchers and authors of agricultural value chain course reference book as
well as keynote speakers in Semnirs/Webinar conducted. Further more several other
institutions were actively participated in providing inputs to the project and as keynote
speakers in the project’s seminars/webinar including Maluku Agricultural Department, Ambon
Municipality Institution of regional planning and development, Nasional Institution for Palm
Reserch, Noth Sulawesi and Verstagen family business company, Netherlands.
As a part of the project’s program, delegates from the beneficiary institution take part in an
experience visit to the Netherlands and Ecuador with the objectives of observing and aquairing
knowledge and experience on Agricultural value chain practices of Cavendish banana as well
as, having discussions and establishing contact with several international institutions such as
Agrofair Company, Netherlands, Wageningan University and Research, Wageningan, Naturalis
Biodiversity Institute, Leinden, Verstagen Family Business Company, and Banana Growers
Association of Elguabo, Assoguabo, Ecuador (Leunufna et al., 2021 a, b).
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Leunufna, S. (2022). Development of Maluku Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.): Collaborations, Opportunities and Challenges. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12276
Figure 4. Various activities of BLVC project: Internet and face to face Lecturing (a-d), workshop
(e), student’s presentations (f-g), seminars with keynote speakers from different institutions
(h-i) and evaluation meeting (k-l). Source: BLVC’s project documents.
Nutmeg Innovation Platform Maluku
As a means of continuation of the BLVC project activities following its termination after 3-4
years of implementation, some of the project’s acheievements were institutionalized i.e.
inclusion of agricultural value chain analyses course into curriculum of the Faculty of
Agriculture Pattimura University and establishment of Nutmeg Innovation Platform Maluku.
Innovation platform can be loosely defined as a platform or place where parties (people) with
similar visions gather together to learn, to brain-storm, to provide and discuss inputs, ideas and
problems, and to implement the ideas or to act on the solutions for the development of common
objectives, which is, in this, case nutmeg commodity of Maluku province.
Nutmeg Innovation Platform Maluku (NIPM) was officially established through a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) signed by Governor of the Maluku Province, Rector of the Pattimura
University and Managing Director of the Agrofair Company the Netherlands (Fig. 5a). It is
composed of a number of institutions related to the government, education and research,
business, NGOs and farmers and farmers’ group. Those which have been involved are Provincial
Regional Planning and Development Institution (BAPEDA Maluku), micro, small, and medium
enterprices institution (UMKM) Maluku, Maluku Department of Agriculture, Pattimura
University (Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Matematics and Natural Sciences), Institute
for the Assessment of Agricutural Technology(BPTP) Maluku, Agricultural Vocational School
Passo (SMK Passo), Ambon, State Vocational Schools no. 2 ( SMKN 2), no. 4 (SMKN 4) and no.
9 (SMKN 9) Seram Island, Kamboty Spice Maluku Family business, Maenusu Family business,
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Nutmeg farmers and Farmers’ group, Liliboy, Agrofair Company Netherlands, MDF training and
consultancy, Bali, Q-point, Maluku living Laboratoty and others.
Four working groups has been established in NIPM, each elaborates the topics of Standard
Operational Procedure (SOP), Infra-structure, Seed and seedlings and Information and
communication technology, to be further presented and discussed in the meetings of NIPM.
Through joint works with other institutions, NIPM prepared proposals to fund implementation
of some of its programs. Taylor Made Training proposal with the title “Capacity building in
the field of post-harvest management and rural entrepreneurship to develop competitive,
sustainable and gender sensitive value chain in Indonesia”, was submitted to funding provider
in September, 2021 with Q-Point B.V. the Netherlands as the main coordinating institution. The
second proposal entited “Conservation of tropical forests, biodiversity and endemic species in
Maluku and the Wallacea – prosperity of small nutmeg farmers’ households as driver” with
Rikolto, an International Non-government Organisation, Indonesian branch office as the main
partner, was submitted in January 2022. Both proposals received high value and appreciation
but were not successful in being funded due to high competition. Further proposals are still
being prepared by NIPM.
In further collaborations, members of NIPM took part in a graduate course of “global learning
experience” at the department of business Information System for the Digital Era, the Institute
Mines Telecom Business School Paris, in terms of being a guest lecturer on Nutmeg Innovation
Platform Maluku as well as being judge panel members for the graduate students’
presentations (Shiris, 2022 - Fig. 5 b,c). Several suggestions related to the use of recently
developed information technologies in efforts to communicate informations among nutmeg’s
farmers in Maluku were made. As well, possibility to further collaborations in the future was
proposed. As understood, small islands of Maluku are mostly isolated from each other due to
the lack of transportation and internet connection (wifi signal).
Figure 5. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of Nutmeg Innovation
Platform Maluku (a), Lecturing, presentation and discussions of graduate studens of the
Institute Mines Telecom Business School Paris (b dan c). Source: Document of NIPM (a) and
Shiris (2022 b, c)
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Leunufna, S. (2022). Development of Maluku Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.): Collaborations, Opportunities and Challenges. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12276
Opportunities and Chalenges on Maluku Nutmeg Development
In further development, different factors promoting or impeding the development of nutmeg
commodity need to be identified and dealt with. A number of opportunities, challenges as well
as problems identified are discussed randomly as follows;
Plant age and land ownership; Banda case
It is depicted in Table 1. above that, eventhough, Central Maluku Regency, where Banda Island
situated, has the highest total Nutmeg production, the production per ha is lower than that of
Ambon and Tual Municipalities. Among the possible reasons indicated previously, observation
in Banda Island showed that the problems of land ownersip in relation to the age of nutmeg
trees (which are nowadays quite old), which coorelated to decreasing of nutmeg yield is
another cause of reduction in tree production (kg) per planting area (ha) in Banda Island and
at the end contributes to the reduction of total production per hectare of Central Maluku
Regency. Studies (Simanjorang et al., 2020) comparing competitive advatages of nutmeg
farming between Banda region and Ambon region showed that nutmeg farming in Banda region
is more competitive than that in Ambon region. However, the data also indicated that average
seed productivity in banda region (0,23 kg/ha) is slightly lower than that in Ambon region (0,24
kg/ha).
Depends on the species and/or cultivars, nutmeg tree inisiate flowers 5 years (in Grenada,
Singh et al., 2003) or 7 to 8 years (cases in Maluku) after planting. Following first flowering or
fruiting, tree production will continuously increase up to 20 – 25 years. Production is constantly
high during the age of 25 to 50 years and decrease up to 80 years (Flach, 1966; Bustaman,
2007). Nutmeg trees in Banda region are mostly in the condition of old age and need to be
rejuvenated. However, the farmers hesitate to replant the trees, eventhough the seeds have
been prepared by the government, because the land ownership is not of the farmers but the
government; farmers refuse to be only the cultivators (workers)(Lawalatta et al., 2017; Clercks
and Leunufna, 2018).
Data in Table 3, with small calculatios, show that each nutmeg farmer in Central Maluku
Regency in the year 2017 cultivated a land area of 0.77 ha or with the use of 10 x 10 planting
distance and 1 male to 10 female planting sex ratio (1:10), cultivated 70 trees potentially
producing fruits. Bustaman (2007) indicated that when further assess, every farmer in Maluku
poses only 0.3 ha of land with 37 productive trees. Aside of the farmers plantations, Maluku
nutmeg is also manage by 5 big private estates as large as 10. 128 ha producing 2357 tons.
Banda nutmegs composed of farmers’ plantations and local government plantations following
the nationalization of nutmeg estates after Dutch colonial era. The colonial nutmeg estates are
now cultivated by famers with 70 to 30 percents of benefit partition between government and
the farmer. Finding the solution for land ownership, through government isntitutions, will
promote nutmegs production and farmers income and prosperity in Banda region.
Genetic Diversity, Certificate of origination, market niche and the proof of origination
According to Flach (1966) there exist only two center of cultivation in the world, the first and
the oldest is at the area of origination of Myristica fragrans Houtt. Maluku, Eastern Indonesia
with Banda as the main center, the second is Grenada West Indies. As the center of its
origination, in Maluku distributed various species and varieties of nutmeg. Warbug (1892)
described a number of nutmegs species important for human needs including Myristica
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argentea Warb. distributed between Papua and Maluku, Myristica fragrans Houtt. (true nutmeg
(Die echte Muskatnuss) distributed from Banda, Maluku to Minahasa, Sulawesi, Sanger; a
number of varieties were described by Rumphius including pala Boy (Boy nutmeg), pala
Bakambar (twin nutmeg), pala Pancuri (thief nutmeg/Diebsnuesse), pala Raja (king nutmeg) ,
pala Putih (white nutmeg), and pala Domine (Domine nutmeg/predigermuskat); selanjutnya
species Mysristica speciosa (bacan Art) cultivated in Bacan, Ternate, Myristica succedanea
spread within Tidore, Ternate, Halmahera, and Myristica sheffei (pala Onem) developed in New
guinea as well as Ternate.
Based on the facts of its center of origin and its significant role in history as well as its specific
geographical area and growing condition (warm climate, volcanic soil – Flach, 1966) etc. which
implicate the uniqueness and the quality of its products, the government of Indonesia through
the Ministry of Law and Human Rights granted the certificate of Center of origination with
geographical indication (Rongiyati, 2018) to Banda Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.). Such a
certificate surely is not only recognition to the origin and uniqueness of banda Nutmeg, but also
protection to its market niche especially the international market. With the increasing
consumers’ awareness of the pureness and quality of products especially in the international
market, Banda nutmeg surely will have a special market niche internationally. Through a
conversation with one of the biggest world numet importer, it is understood that nutmeg
products from different regions often claimed to be of Banda nutmeg, which then taking over
market niche which is supposed to be of the original Banda nutmeg. In this context, through a
joint work with nutmeg Innovation Platform Maluku, scientis at Naturalis Biodiversity Institute
Leiden Netherlands has produced the DNA profile of Banda nutmeg and will be the reference
to compare with other nutmeg products claimed to be of Banda nutmeg, and therefore become
a way of protection to market niche of Banda nutmeg internationally.
Genetic mixture and quality of export products
It is elaborated previously a number of economically significant species and varieties
distributed within Maluku islands, each with its specific caharcteristics, with Banda nutmeg
(Myristica fragrans Houtt.) and papua nutmeg (M. argentea Warb.) received main emphasis on
the quality by Warburg (1892). Studies have indicated that there are differences in certain
quality components even within different ecotypes of species Myristica fragrans Houtt. In
Maluku islands (Marzuki et al., 2014 – Table 3). However, in marketing management, all
products from Maluku islands (province), are indicated as Maluku products without any
distinctions among species or genetic back grounds and growing areas. This mixture will
certainly reduce the average quality of Maluku nutmeg and therefore, there is a need to apply
sortation within the Maluku nutmeg product to obtain the best quality especially for
international market.
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of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12276
Table 3. Quality components according to Indonesian National Standard (SNI) of Myristica
fragrans Houtt. from three different ecotypes in Maluku.
Quality component Ecotype
Banda Ambon Luhu
Specific grafity 0,906 0,897ns 0,909ns
Refraction index 1,490 1,491ns 1,489ns
Optical rotation + 16,3 + 13,0* 11,4*
Essential oil’s content in the
seed (%)
11,69 ns (young
seed)
11,92ns (young
seed)
9,99* (young
seed)
13,07 ns (old
seed)
12,82ns (old
seed)
11,27* (old
seed)
Main Essential oil content:
Myristicin 13,76 13,54 5,57
Elemicin 0,94 0,67 2,05
Safrole 2,44 2,46 0,97
(Iso) eugenol 0,90 0,55 0,70
Source: Re-arranged after Marzuki et al. (2014). Note. *) significantly different based on dunnet
test, ns = not significantly different.
Propagation, seed nursery and productivity
Nutmeg cultivation was iniciated about after the Second World War by way of occasionally
transplanting the volunteers (Flach, 1966). Today, nutmeg cultivation should be seen in two
important aspects; first to maintain and increase genetic diversity to be able to improve the
possibility of sustainably developing new genotypes with desirable characteristics in the future
andsSecond to increase nutmeg production in the short and medium terms to be able to meet
the increasing market demands. To answer the first aspect, nutmeg propagation need to be
conducted as a way of sexual propagation allowing the possibility of independent assortment
and segregation of chromosomes with genes in their locuses and possibility of new genes
recombinations producing new genotypes of nutmegs, as that explained in Mendelian genetics,
widen the genetic diversity and enable stability of nutmeg species evolutionary and ability to
developed new improved varieties indicated previously.
Generally, nutmeg is a diocious plant meaning that the male and female sex organs are
separated in two different individual trees. In more detail, Denium (1932; 19490 in Flach,
1966) observed that seed propagation of nutmeg, with little variation, results in 55% female,
40% male and 5% bisexual. With the above sex-ratio, generative propagation of nutmeg wil not
benefits the farmers since almost half of the population (40%) in the planting area will not
produce fruits. Studies have shown, however, that one male to 10 female planting ratio (1:10
ratio) is ideal enough for a good pollination and production (Flach 1966; Kayhatu et al., 2021).
Sex determination in nutmeg should, therefore, be determined at the early stage of
development (seed or seedlings stages) to be able to determine the field sex-ratio and the
planting arrangement and not to wait 7 to 8 years for the firs flowering stage.
Indigenous wisdom in determining nutmeg sex at early stages of development exist, including
observation on seeds, as well as leaves, brances and roots characters at the seedlings stage.
However, scientific studies confirming the practices are rarely found. Somehow, nutmeg
cultivation in 1:10 sex-ratio still produce filials which are close relative to each other (as a
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reference for 1:10 planting ratio, fruits of one tree are full-siblings to one another while those
from other trees in the same population are half-siblings) meaning it is not fully anser the
question of genetic diversity in nutmeg.
To respond to the short term yield increase in nutmeg, several methods of vegetative
propagation have been implemented. The method of epicotyl grafting has been successfully
developed and recommended to the farmers at production centers in Indonesia including
Maluku province. Epicotyl grafting enables a combination of characters through selected scion
and roostock to increase production and ensure the sex of seedling’s prior to field
transplantation.
Seedlings production by the use of staking method has also been implemented by Maluku
Department of Agriculture mostly through collaboration with small scale seed growers.
Selection of highly productive mother plant and abundant flower production of male plant will
ensure a successful pollination and fertilization for maximum productivity of nutmeg trees, in
addition to the assurance of sex ratio.
Application of biotechnology i.e. tissue culture techniques will support nutmeg seed provision
with selective (high productivity etc. ) genotypes and healthy seed through the use of meristem
culture techniques for virus and deseases elimination, especially contamination by Aspergilus
flavus and A. parasiticus. A study in Sri Lanka reported that shoot explant of 3 years old nutmeg
tree can produce up to 4-5 shoots on the Anderson Medium supplemented wih 2,0 mg/l BA
with or without 0,1 mg/l NAA in a periode of 8 weeks (Yapabandara, 1989).
Having recognized the advantages they posses, vegetative modes of propagation often take
longer time to be ready and less in number or in other words relatively not very quick in filling
the need for seedlings in comparison to that of seeds sowing. Indeed, the increase in production
through vegetative/clonal propagation occurs with the sacrifice of genetic diversity, causing
vulnerability to changing environments, in the long run, including pests and deseases
infestation.
Standard Operasional Procedure (SOP) and its implementation
Government programs in nutmeg developments through provision of standard procedure for
various activities including seeds nursery, post harvest handling and business have been
published, i.e. togather with the technical instructions, and laws and regulations. For example
the Desition Letter of Minister of Agriculture Republic of Indonesia number
320/Kpts/KB.020/10/2015 Regarding Guidence to Produce, Certify, Distribute, and Supervise
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) Seeds, regulate various aspects related to the seedlings in
Indonesia.
Implementing the programs in Maluku province require preparation and building of the
capacity of extension service personals by the Department of Agriculture at Provincial,
Municipality and Regency levels with the support of other institutions including Education and
Research institutions, Non-governmentl institutions and others. Further extention services
togather with field demonstrations and provision of inputs and supporting factors will surely
increase plant productivity and total nutmeg production in Maluku. The efforts in supporting
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of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12276
capacity building of nutmeg’s stake horlders in Maluku is also carried out by Nutmeg Innovation
Platform Maluku by submitting technical proposal to international funding providers.
Cultivation system, sustainability and market niche
Nutmeg cultivation in Maluku is accomplished in two different planting systems; monocuture
and polyculture or multiple cropping. Monoculture system is found in areas such as Banda and
Gorom islands (Kayhatu et al., 2021), and considered a system inherit from the colonial era.
Cultivation system in most regions in Maluku (Banda, Ambon, Seram islands) is accomplished
in agroforestry system called Dusun, a polyculture system which have traditionally been
practiced by farmers in Maluku for centuries from generation to generation. Wattimena (2011)
indicated that nutmeg cultivation by farmers in Banda island can be grouped into Dusun in its
very simple form, in which only two plant strata exist i.e. canarium (Cannarium commune) at
the high strata and nutmeg at the second strata. It may also be combined with clove (Zyzygium
aromaticum) and melinjo (Gnetum gnemon).
Dusun type practiced in Seram and Ambon islands are of mixture type, cultivated with various
different cops dominated by coconut, clove and nutmeg or dominated by fruit trees such as
durian (Durio zibetinus Merr), gandaria (Bouea macrophylla), duku (Lansium domesticum
Correa), langsat (Lansium domesticum Correa), kokosan (Lansium domesticum Correa), bacang
(Mangifera foetida Lour), kuini (Mangifera odorata Griff), manga (Mangifera indica L.),
rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.), bali snake fruit (Salacca zallaca var. amboniensis Becc).
Other crops in mix dusun are loleba (Bambusa atra Lindl), yellow bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris
Scharad), patong bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper Backer), lenggua (Instia ambonienseis
Thouars), gamutu (Arenga pinnata Mur), Kemiri (Aleurites spp.), areca nut (Areca catechu),
melinjo (Gnetum gnemon), petai (Parkia speciosa Hassk), and others (Wattimena, 2011).
In a mix cropping type (dusun), there are generally 4 strata; stata -1 (the highest strata) is
covered with canarium, petai, salawaku and others; strata 2 is filled with fruit trees; areca nut,
enau and others; strata-3 filled with snake fruit, pineaple, banana; and strata-4 (the lowest)
filled with deris (Deris eliptica), tuber crops (Dioscorea, Xanthosoma spp., Colocasia spp. and
pineaple.
A number of dusun crops such as canarium, coconut and others are function as keystone species
i. e. as food providers for other component of biodiversity such as various birds, kus-kus and
others, and enrich the biodiversity in dusun system. Wattimena (2011) explain the connection
between dusun system developed in Maluku islands with sustainability defined by Gibs (1987);
first it is ecologically sound means the quality of natural resources are integratedly preserved
from animals, plants and microorganisms, second economically viable means that the farmers
can aquire all their needs out of dusun, and third, socially just and humane, means that dusun
is also benefit those who are poor in the community and the dignity of all living is taken into
account i.e. through Usu local wisdom wehere part of the harvest which fall down from the tree
belongs to the poor and Sasi local wisdom where harvest should not prevent the capability of
reproduction.
In the paper “strategy of maintaining Indonesia as the main nutmeg producer in the world”,
Hafif (2021) emphasis the need to promote good agricultural practice (GAP) base nutmeg
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farming technology such as mix garden and agroforestry. With the increase in the need for
sustainable environment and biodiversity, farming system implementing GAP will have greater
markets due to high consumen preferences, especially in developed countries such as Europe,
USA etc.
Money lender practices and solution propsals
In certain cases, lack of market information, lack of supporting infra-structure, sudden and
desperate needs of family for different necessities such as sickness or wedding of family
members, school or relegiuos necessities, as well as erroneous climatic conditions (i.e May Dew
in which rough wheter causing nutmeg fruits to fall, Lawalatta, 2017), often conditioned
farmers to market their nutmeg plants (with fruits) before or after harvest to money lenders
with a price far lower than market price. Money lendering transactions which are simple, not
complicated, anywhere, anytime, as long as both parties understand each other, offer an
attractive appeal for money landing practices. Studies of money landing practices on clove’s
farming (Pangemanan et al., 2018) indicated that the highest percentage of money lading
practices occur among siblings or family relatives followed by bisness partners, and other
parties. More than 70% of farmers involved in money landing practices expressed to be benefit
from the practice while 23% expressed to be detriment. The study concluded that the money
landing practices persist because most of the farmers feel helped. Although it is fast, easy and
beneficial at the time, money landing trap will cause farmers not easy to break out from the
poor economic situation and therefore has to be prevented.
In the discussion related to money landing practices on nutmeg farming in Maluku during the
meeting of Nutmeg Innovation Platform Maluku, it was proposed that the government through
Micro, Small, Medium Enterprices (UMKM) Department of governor’s office may facilitate
farmers with soft credit from the bank to be able to deal with sudden urgen need of the farmers.
The use of storage receipt (resi gudang) system is also considered helpful in this case, where
farmers can store their nutmeg products in the government storage facilities and receive the
receipt as a proof of their belongings. Using the receipt as collateral, farmers can obtain loan
from the bank or related institutions to support their need and market their nutmeg products
only when the purchasing price is satisfactory. The storage receipt system is regulated in
Indonesia through Act No 9 year 2006 regarding Storage Receipt System (Sistem Resi Gudang
- SRG), which was amendment with Act No 9 year 2011 (Ashari, 2011).
Profit margin, pricing policy and economic appeal of nutmeg farming
Studies in Banda and Ambon regions indicated that generally, nutmeg tradings are taking place
in two different value chain; long chain i.e. from farmers to village collecting traders (VCT),
county collecting traders (CCT) and ended with exporting traders (E), and short chain i.e. from
farmers to county collecting traders and ended with export collecting traders (Leunupun and
Turukay, 2018; Lawalatta, 2019). Out of the 130.000 IDR/kg market price of nutmeg at the
exporting traders, farmers shared 53.84% or 70.000 IDR/kg in the long chain (Table 4) and
57.69% or 75.000 IDR/kg in the short chain (Table 5). With a small additional investment,
village collecting traders shared a margin profit of 4.865 IDR/kg or 3.2% (Table 4). Similarly,
with some additional expenses, county collecting traders shared a margin profit of 49.07
IDR/kg or 37.74% both in the long chain and short chain (Table 4 and 5). With the analysis of
the above profit margin of nutmeg seed marketing, it is shown that farmers have the possibility
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Leunufna, S. (2022). Development of Maluku Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.): Collaborations, Opportunities and Challenges. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12276
of increasing their profit out of their nutmeg cultivation with some additional investments and
knowledge of market information, something which can be achieved through bank loan or other
policies and participation in farmers association or farmers group or other government
interventions.
How much is the price of nutmeg products (seed, mace, powder) should be received by farmers
to be fair with the investments given to their nutmeg farming system? How is the mechanism
of determining nutmeg bottom price? Who are the parties making the bottom price decition?
How far are the farmers or farmers associations’ involvement in deteriming the price of nutmeg
products? are some questions worth asking. If the nutmeg products are traded internationally
with high prices, then the farmers should have a right to earn more from their labours.
According to the head of Agriculture Department of North Maluku Province, nutmeg price has
always been determined by money lenders causing farmers to hardly enjoy better income from
their nutmeg products (Aminuddin and Nikita, 2018). He urged Agriculture Department of
regencies within his authorithy (North Maluku Province) to take control of nutmeg market
price. Lack of economic attractiveness of nutmeg farming may hinder the sustainability of
numeg role as a superior commodity in Maluku due to decreasing interest in nutmeg farming
and business by young generations.
Table 4: Analysis of marketing margin of nutmeg seed in Banda county with Long Market
Channel (Farmer, VCT – CCT-Exporter)
No. Item Cost (IDR/Kg) Cost (IDR/kg) Share (%)
1 Farmer
Purchasing price to VCT 70,000 53.84
Transport cost 64.1 0.01
Packaging cost 104 0.08
2 Village Collecting Traders (VCT)
Purchasing price from farmers 70,000 53.84
Packaging cost 30.01 0.68
Transport cost to CCT 36.7 0.08
Labour cost 68.11 41.53
Marketing cost 134.8 0.63
Profit margin 4,865 3.2
Total margin 5,000 3.85
Purchasing price to CCT 75,000 5.69
3 County Collecting Traders (CCT)
Purchasing price from VCT 75,000 57.69
Packaging price 220 0.16
Transportation cost to harbour 230 0.17
Labour cost 10 7.69
Expedition fee 133 0.1
Marketing cost 5,930 4.56
Profit margin 49,070 37.74
Total margin 55,000 42.3
Purchasing price to exporter 130,000 100
4 Eksporter
Purchasing price from CCT 130,000 100
Sum: Total Marketing Price : IDR 6,065
Profit Margin : IDR 53,935
Total Margin : IDR 60,000
Source: Lawalatta (2019)
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Table 5: Analysis of marketing margin of nutmeg seed in Banda county with Short Market
Channel (Farmer- CCT-Exporter)
No. Item Price
(IDR/Kg)
Price
(IDR/kg)
Share (%)
1 Farmers
Purchasing price to CCT 75,000 57.69
Packaging cost 58,57 0.04
Transportation cost to CCT 146 0.11
2 County Collecting Traders (CCT)
Purchasing price from CCT 75,000 57.69
Packaging cost 220 0.16
Transportation cost to harbour 230 0.17
Labour cost 10 7.69
Expedition fee 133 0.1
Marketing cost 5,930 4.56
Profit margin 49,070 37.74
Total margin 55,000 42.3
Purchasing price to Exporter 130,000 100
3 Eksporter
Purchasing price from CCT 130,000 100
Sum : Total Marketing price: IDR 5,93
Profit Margin : IDR 49,070
Total Margin : IDR 55,000
Source: Lawalatta (2019)
Battling aflatooxin contamination
Aflatoxin is the number one enemy of Indonesian’s export of nutmeg including Maluku and,
therefore, efforts to improve nutmeg’s product qualities should be directed to overcome the
aflatoxin poison and its sources in nutmeg, which are fungi of the genus Aspergilus. Aspergilus
is a storage room fungus which infected seeds in storage and dormant in cold and dry condition,
however can infect seedling or plants later on in the growing periode depending on ideal
environmental condition, stage of plant development, level of plant resistance and interaction
among the factors mentioned above (Justice dan Bass, 2002; Rahayu, 1999; Yuniarti et al., 2013;
Schmidt, 2000).
Battling the aflatoxin in nutmeg, therefore, require integrated efforts both on plants and on
products. It requres the use of resistant varieties, healthy seeds and sedlings, good cultivation
methods and technques, suitable post harvest handling including methods and technoques of
drying,packaging, storing and transporting with care on the environmental condition
(temperature and humidity).
Althoug, not frequently reported as pathogen causing deseases in plant during the growing and
development periods, wide spread contamination of Aspergilus causing aflatoxing intoxication
accurs right before harvest on seeds of several commodities such as nutmeg, soybean, ground
nut, corn, coffee and pepper. Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 are micotoxin naturally accurs, higly toxic
and carsinogenic (Susilowati et al., 2020).
Several newly developed superior varieties of nutmeg with high production and short
flowering and harvesting periods have been recommended by the governments e.i. Ternate-1
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of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12276
nutmeg from Ternate (https://www.benihperkebunanols.com/ index.php?route= product/
product& produc t_ id =84), Tidore-1 nutmeg from Tidore (echnology-indonesia.com/
pertanian-dan-pangan/inovasi-pertanian/pala-varietas-tidore-1/) and Fakfak nutmeg from
Papua (https://www.litbang.pertanian.go.id/info-teknologi/3077/), and others. It is also
important to mention that superior varieties developed in monoculture system may perform
differently when grown in dusun system and, therefore, should be taken into considaration.
The use of tissue culture to produce healthy (free of pest and deseases) seeds have also been
suggested to go about aflatoxin contamination. As well, appropriate cultutral methods and
technoqies may ensure the resistency of the plants to pest and deseases and and to reach an
optimum production according to its genetic potential.
Pre-harvest and post-harvest management of nutmeg products plays important role in
determining nutmeg products quality; many of the practices have been confirmd by research
findings and recommended by the government. The practices include maturity stage of nutmeg
fruits, harvesting the fruits on the tree not on the ground, product’s sun drying or smoke drying
in appropriate manner (drying off the ground and not on the ground; not directly contact with
the sun etc.), maintaining suitable temperature and humidity during storage and transport
(Supriadi 2017; Siwalette et al., 2018; Susilowati et al., 2020).
In the field visits in Ambon as well as discussions during the meeting of Nutmeg Platform
Maluku, it is found that, eventhough, some famers have been practicing the rigt methods and
technical procedures of nutmeg post-harvest handling, many others are still fail in conducti
similar practices (Fig. 6).
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Figure 6. Nutmeg seed sowing nurseries in Liliboy Village, Ambon Island (a-c), Nutmeg
cultivation in dusun system at Hila Kaitetu Village, Central Maluku Regency (d-f), maturity
stage of nutmeg fruit, ready for harvest (g), several techniques of drying nutmeg’s seeds and
mace by velagers in nutmeg production centers in Ambon Island; those which are prone to
aflatoxin contamination (h-j), and some of the highest quality nutmeg products of Ambon
Island (k-o). Source: Author’s field documentation (a-c). Lating J., Kamboty Spice Maluku
(Downloaded with permission, d-o).
Quality standard, certification and marketing
To be able to compete in domestic and global markets, nutmeg products require to posses
quality and proof of the quality through certification documents. Standardation is an effort to
maintain product’s quality and business efficiency while certification is the activities of judging
the trueness of the quality which related to producing a written document indicating that the
products adhere to regulations (Dararizki et al., 2020). Standardation and certification are
benefiting nutmeg products’ marketing by providing guarantee to the consumers that the
product’s quality is true to what is promised and, therefore increase consumers’ trust,
protecting the consumers from low quality products, and securing international approval and
can therefore be traded acros countries (Dararizki et al., 2020).
Indonesian nutmeg’s quality standard is described in SNI 006:2015 produced by Indonesian
National Certification Institute (BSN). In this document, nutmeg quality class and parameters
are determined for nutmeg seed with shell, nutmeg seed without shell and mace in addition to
methods and procedure of measuring the parameters
(https://www.academia.edu/32132675/SNI_0006_2015_pala). Nutmeg international
Standard is determined by International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) which is a
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of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12276
federation of National Standardization Institutes of member countries. International Standards
for nutmeg (specific for Myristica fragrans Houtt. and not for M. argentea Warb.) is regulated
in ISO 6577:2002(en) Nutmeg, whole or broken, and mace, whole or in pieces (Myristica
fragrans Houtt.) — Specification (https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:6577:en). In
general, standards parametars released by ISO is adopted by SNI Indonesia and other ISO
members since it is common agreement. Other standar institutions such as European Union,
however, applied a more rigid standard.
In terms of obligation to adhere to the standards by nutmeg products, SNI and ISO, as well as
GAP (for examples) fall into general category or not obligated, different than that of Halal,
maximum limit of pesticides residu and contamination (for example) which are obligatory.
However, they are clearly determinant factors in market competitiveness domestic and global;
an example is the rejection of nutmeg export products due to Aflatoxyn contamination
indicated previously. Other standardation and certification such as organic and fair trade,
specificly as by certain market segments, are tertier in category.
Compliances to the standardization and certification by Maluku nutmeg products have been
developed and continuously improved. Export to Europe has been done both by PT Ollop Hilla
Kaitetu as well as Kamboty Spice Maluku, Gudang Arang (Lating, 2019), eventhoug become
stagnant due to Aflatoxyn problems. Export to China is being done through Yos Sudarso ship
harbor by PT Maenusu, Laha, in which the standards applid is not as strict as that applied by
European market. Organic certification has been practiced by PT Ollop (Hatunia et al., 2016)
and continued by PT Kamboty Spice Maluku. Other certification such as fair trade may enable
more benefits to nutmeg’s farmers. For example, fair trade certification on Cavendish banana
in Ecuador benefits farmer’s association about one million US$ every year (Leunufna et al., 2021
a, b).
Infra-struktur
Nutmeg products to be exported by small family business such as Maenusu and kamboty Spice
Maluku are obtained from different production centers distributed among and within islands
of Banda, Ambon, Seram and others even from other provinces. Several obstacles restricted the
collection activities affecting product’s quality, business appointment schedule and therefore
the business profit. Absent of road infra-structure, damage of roads, unavailability of
transportation, lack of sanitation system at harbours, unavailability of shelter at harbours,
uncertain ship schedule, damage and/or leaking ship, uncertain waiting periode at harbor, long
period of official documents preparation are among some which can be mentioned. Often time
the shipment from other provinces arrived on schedule in comparison to that within the
province.
In the discussions related to infra-structure by nutmeg by Nutmeg Innovation Platform Maluku,
it is decided to conduct a study on supply chain (value chain) of nutmeg with emphasis on
availability and condition of infra-structures both at the provincial and regency/municipality
levels. Initial step of this study has been carried out by the research team of Maenusu and
Kamboty Spice Maluku by inventorate locations of farmers and collecting traders.
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Based on results of the research and identification of infrastructure problems encountered,
Maluku Government, i.e. Maluku Institute for Regional Planning and Development (BAPEDA)
will perform coordinations with related institutions at the provincial and
regencies/municipality levels to provide solutions. More over, as indicated previously,
availability of accredited laboratory for aflatoxin analysis and other sanitary treatments in
Maluku, necessitate nutmeg products to be evaluated in Surabaya or Jakarta, a procedure which
is costly in time and money. Maluku nutmeg development will be more elevated with the
availability of such infra-strcucture and various related regulations by the Maluku Government.
CLOSING/ CONCLUSION
Future development of Nutmeg commodity, in efforts to promote a community, especially
nutmeg farmers and small buniness community which are prosperous and sustainable,
requires a close collaboration among stake-holders i.e. government, education and research,
business institutions, community and press (which communicating development information).
The collaboration in the form of quintuple-helix takes place at every single chain of the value
chain or supplay chain of nutmeg commodity. The collaboration is inclusive in many aspects
i.e. scientific specialty (agronomy, plant breeding, post-harvest technology, and agribusiness),
business scale (micro, small, medium, big enterprices), operational geography (local, national,
regional, international) as well as institutional affiliation (Gorvernment, non- government).
More over, the intended sustainable living concerns not only economic aspect by gaining
continuous profits, but also development and improvement of human dignity as well as the
savety of environment and biodiversity.
Maluku nutmeg development is faced with opportunities, challenges and problems which are
to be undertood and to deal with, some of those related to many aspects which have been
discussed in this paper i.e. history and origination, land ownership and capital, genetics and
agronomy (seeds and seedling nurseries, planting system, pest and deseases management,
harvesting), post-harvest management (efforts to meet market quality standards; local and
exports), marketing (marketing system, bottom price and marginal profits, marketing infra- structure), training and capacity building of farmers and extention services personals,
government regulations, and others.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper is prepared as a part of the materials presented in the National Webibar with the
Theme “Spice Route, the cultural way towards sustainable living” (https://youtu.be/Is4yDx- S_TA ), organized by Directorate Jeneral of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture and Research
and Technology of the Republik of Indonesia, Archipelago Solidarity Foundation/Institute
(ARSO) and Sinar Harapan.com in a collaboration with Ambon Municipality Government,
Pattimura University, Maluku Christian University, Islam State University Ambon, State
Polytechnique Ambon, State Institute of Christian Relegion Ambon.
The author thakns all parties supporting the completion of this paper; Maluku Provincial
Government (Maluku Governor), Agrofair Company Netherlands, Blended Learning – Value
Chain (BLVC) joint project, Nutmeg Innovation Platform Maluku, and other institutions and
personals whose names are not mentioned here.
Page 23 of 25
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Leunufna, S. (2022). Development of Maluku Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.): Collaborations, Opportunities and Challenges. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(3). 73-97.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.103.12276
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