Coffee is one of the leading commodities besides oil palm and rubber. Most of the domestic coffee production is produced from smallholder plantations. In 2010 the area of national people's coffee reached 1,162,810 hectares, in 2015 the area increased to 1,183,244 hectares. However, it is estimated that coffee area in 2017 will decrease by 0.3% compared to 2015 (Ditjenbun, 2016). Despite the ups and downs of national coffee, coffee is still the prima donna in contributing sources of income for the country and coffee planters in particular. One of the national coffee centers is Bengkulu Province. In 2015 the area of people's coffee in Bengkulu Province reached 90,480 hectares with a production of 56,416 tons. If you look at these figures, the productivity of coffee plantation in Bengkulu is only around 0.6 tons per hectare per year. Coffee production can still be increased by good cultivation.
The potential of Bengkulu coffee is genetically good enough, as evidenced by the release of Bengkulu superior local coffee, which is named SINTARO in Rejang Lebong and SEHASCENCE districts in Kepahiang, where the coffee clones have good to excellent flavors that have the potential to become FINE robusta with above average production potential.
Although it has a good enough genetic potential and contributors to national production, it has not been able to improve Bengkulu's name and the level of welfare of its coffee planters because coffee beans produced by coffee farmers are still of a random nature because they have low quality. Seeds that have low quality are caused by inappropriate handling both in terms of post-harvest and processing. Efforts should be made to handle the cultivation system, post-harvest and coffee processing so as to produce coffee beans with good quality and can compete in national and international markets.
The potential for developing agricultural commodities is very wide open for this district, especially coffee. With its natural resources, coffee can be one of the leading commodities developed. Nationally, the development of coffee in Indonesia is still limited to the availability of land, especially Arabica. The character of Arabica coffee which wants to grow well in the highlands is one of the inhibiting factors for the development of this commodity. Bengkulu Province has good potential in developing Arabica coffee. The topography of the region with elevation> 1000 m.dpl is a promising capital base for the development of Arabica coffee. Potential land for development is spread in the highlands of northern Bengkulu Province, starting from Mukomuko, Lebong, Rejang Lebong, Kepahiang, Seluma and Kaur.
At these high elevations, the development of leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix B. et Br.) And coffee fruit borer (Hypothenemous hampei), which are the main pests in Arabica coffee cultivation, can be controlled naturally because of low or cold temperatures. At the height of a place like this is less favorable for the growth and development of these pests and diseases, so that the Arabica coffee plant will not be seriously attacked by these pests and diseases. This high place can also be one of the main supporting factors for producing excellent Arabica coffee (coffee specialty).
Meanwhile, areas with elevations below 1000 m.dpl tend to be more suitable for developing Robusta coffee. Robusta coffee can grow ideally at altitudes of 500-1000 m.dpl, however robusta coffee can still grow and produce at altitudes below 500 and above 1000 m.dpl. In general Bengkulu Province is almost all of its regions suitable for Robusta coffee plants, only less than 10% are not suitable. Land that is not suitable for Robusta coffee is land with elevations above 1500 m.dpl. Based on robusta coffee growing criteria, land above 1500 m.dpl is no longer suitable (Nt). This land class is spread in the highlands of the Lebong area.
Based on production data and area area, the potential for developing Robusta coffee business in Bengkulu Province should be emphasized in Rejang Lebong and Kepahiang Regencies. The supporting geographical aspect is one of the considerations of the two districts which are the centers of Bengkulu Province Robusta coffee production. Rejang Lebong and Kepahiang Regencies with hilly topography and fertile soil conditions are very potential to be developed for plantations, especially coffee for both small and large scale.
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