Saiful Armansyah (32), a resident of Gampong Panton Rayeuk, Banda Alam Sub-district, East Aceh has been hunting for jernang since seven years ago.
Almost all the wilderness of Aceh has been explored. Saiful recognizes the jernang of his biological brother Gunadi, a resident of Paya Bakong, North Aceh. While his brother got that knowledge from his father and pakciknya, Armaya Wiyadi and Raman Surya, Gayo tribe from Bener Meriah. "The name of the plant is all called rattan, but the rattan is a type of jernang is jernang rice or nuts, jernang ipoh or elephant, and super jernang. Well the most sought after hunters are super jers, "said Saiful in a talk about the jernang with Serambi, a few days ago. According to Saiful journey to reach the search location jernang can be two days one night. "If you leave in the morning on the trip nginap last night, then the next morning set off again to the destination," he said. Saiful claimed to have been looking for jernang from 2010 until 2016 and has been exploring the forest area of East Aceh to Lokop, North Aceh, Lhokseumawe, Samarkilang (Bener Meriah), Mount Goh Bireun, Beutong, Alubilie, Blang Tadu (Nagan Raya), and Leuser area. "Usually we go through the highway, then go into the village adjacent to the forest. We meet the gampong and invite local people if anyone wants to go to the jungle. If no one wants to leave, I go alone, "said Saiful. The quest quest can reach 15 to 25 days in the forest. "Hasi is sometimes okay and sometimes just enough cost to go home and pay the debt to the tauke, because if there is no capital sometimes spending funded by tauke," said Saiful. If the jernang fruit is processed into flour, the price of high quality jernang flour reaches Rp 1 million-Rp 1.5 million / kilogram. "Now it's hard to get super jernang, because there are many people who diving profession," said Saiful. Since 2013, Saiful claimed to have planted 20 super jug sticks in the area behind his house and now has begun to bear fruit. Usually 2-3 months since the flowering fruit can be harvested. Usually flowering early in the year and if the fruit is already as big as coffee beans or cekokak can be harvested. "But I have not fully understood how to take care and develop it," said Saiful. Like other jungle hunters, Saiful also often encounter wild animals while in the forest. "But the animals do not fight," he said. How to overcome so as not to be disturbed by wild animals, obviously Saiful, if the camp must turn on the fire. If there is smoke, wild animals will not come near. Basically, obviously Saiful, he is also afraid of any possible risks in the forest. However, due to the tantalizing sales of jennels it keeps the spirit. "Although scared but when it is in the forest the fear is gone. Moreover, the result is very satisfactory, because when sold paid in cash with a very satisfactory price. Buyers are also scrambling, "lid Saiful.