Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Mango Export from Indonesia: Insights from Stakeholder Interviews

Abstract

Despite being one of the world’s primary producers, Indonesia faces challenges in increasing mango exports. The government has been promoting mango exports to boost economic growth in the agricultural sector. The purpose of this study is to identify opportunities and challenges that are associated with increasing mango exports from Indonesia. We conducted a qualitative assessment through in-depth interviews with 20 Indonesian mango exporters and government officials, to identify opportunities and challenges associated with increasing mango exports from Indonesia. Our findings reveal that the physical qualities demanded by export markets do not significantly differ from those required by modern domestic markets. We also found that despite global mango markets typically favouring red and yellow mango, there is potential for Harumanis, a sweet green mango variety primarily grown in Indonesia, to be exported to East Asia and several Eastern European countries, which also do not require strict non-physical requirements for imported mangoes. However, the shortage of export-quality mangoes from the on-farm level hinders this effort, together with the lack of advanced postharvest and logistics management, and the absence of quality certification. We recommend to improving physical quality and meeting non-physical requirements, such as certification, at every level of the mango industry value chain.