The Face of Copra in Miangas and Morotai
She sends her copra using the Sabuk Nusantara 69, 70 and 95 pioneer ships, which take turns docking at Miangas every two weeks. She pays about Rp 2.1 million to transport 10 tons of copra.
The maritime highway’s Nusantara Belt Ship 70 docks on Wednesday (08/01/2020) at Tahuna Harbor in the Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi. The cargo ferry serves a number of destinations in the Nusa Utara archipelago, comprising the regencies of Siau Tagulandang Biaro Islands, Sangihe Islands, and Talaud Islands.
Nelly Loeppa, 52, sat at the verandah of her house of Miangas Island, Talaud Islands, North Sulawesi. With a big purse filled with hundreds of bank notes in her hand, the copra businesswoman is ready to welcome profit.
An aged man riding a scooter arrived at Nelly’s house. He was bringing two sacks of dried coconut meat. Nelly’s niece Mei, 20, picked up the sacks and put them on a hanging scale one by one. “Rp 296,000 [US$20.76],” Mei said.