Greater Galangal: The Most Produced Biopharmaceutical Plant in the Riau Islands in 2020

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded that biopharmaceutical plant production in the Riau Islands reached 161.1 tons in 2020. Of this amount, production was dominated by rhizome plants.

The largest production in the Riau Islands last year was galangal/greater galangal, totaling 86.31 tons. This was followed by turmeric with a production of 35.74 tons. Ginger and fingerroot production amounted to 22.37 tons and 13.4 tons, respectively.

The Riau Islands also produced 0.8 tons of Javanese turmeric last year. Temuireng and lempuyang production amounted to 0.57 tons and 0.42 tons, respectively.

Furthermore, the production of temu kunci in the province was 0.27 tons in 2020. Meanwhile, dlingo production was only 0.005 tons.

The largest production of non-rhizome biopharmaceutical plants in the Riau Islands in 2020 was mahkota dewa (Phaleria macrocarpa), at 1.04 tons. This was followed by aloe vera with a production of 0.15 tons.

The amount of mengkudu/pace produced in the Riau Islands was 0.07 tons. Meanwhile, sambiloto production was recorded at 0.03 tons.

Biopharmaceutical plants have many uses, ranging from raw materials for medicine, cooking spices, to cosmetics. Biopharmaceutical plants are divided into two groups: rhizomes and non-rhizomes.

Rhizome plants consist of ginger, galangal, fingerroot, turmeric, Javanese turmeric, temu kunci, and others. Meanwhile, non-rhizome plants consist of cardamom, mengkudu, mahkota dewa, sambiloto, and so on.