The Bamboo and Rattan Sectors in Asia: an Analysis of ... - INBAR

Rattan in Java, Indonesia: a Case Study of the Production-to-
Consumption System 19
Introduction
While a major portion of Indonesian rattan still comes from wild sources, various
cultivation systems have been developed. These include the rattan gardens of
Kalimantan and, the subject of this study, the rattan plantations established by Perum
Perhutani in Java. The first plantations of Java were established in the mid-1980s. To
date, none of the plantation rattan has been harvested. However, wild rattan is available
within Perum Perhutani estates. The wild rattan production system was studied to give
some indication of how the plantation harvest-to-market system might function.
Most of the Indonesian rattan products industry is located on Java, and
concentrated mainly in Cirebon and Surabaya. Java, however, meets only a small
percentage of the total demand for the raw material.
The PCS
The main market participants are:
● Employees in the rattan plantation establishment and management
● Rattan cutters
● Perum Perhutani (a state-owned forest enterprise)
● Processing industry
● Labor in the rattan furniture and handicrafts manufacturing industries
● Sub-contractors
● Finished product traders engaged in trading in the domestic market,
international market, or both.
Rattan plantations were first started in 1984 in existing timber plantations. The
main timber species in production forests are teak (Tectona grandis), pine (Pinus
merkusii) and mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). High value rattan species have been
planted, including Sega (Calamus caesius) Irit (Calamus trachycholeus) and Manau
(Calamus manan), as well as important local species including Seel (Daemonorops
melanochaetes), Seuti (Calamus ornatus), Daemonorops robusta and Calamus inops.
Early plantations used planting material collected from outer islands as wildlings.
Seed stands have now been developed in KPH Bogor and KPH Vianjur. Rattan
germination involves collecting, pre-treatment to remove scales and flesh, and germination.
Sega and Irit are planted 4-5 seeds per supporting tree, selected at a spacing of
8 x 8 m; i.e. approximately 600-650 seedlings/ha. Manau grows individually, so it is
planted more densely. Support trees are spaced 6 x 6 m. Two holes are made under
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