After 4 years of lower production volumes and declining plantation area, Indonesia is finally taking steps to reverse the situation. Being the world’s fourth largest coffee producer, the country mainly produces Robusta coffee beans, that are of lower quality than Arabica, and its own production volume has been declining over the past few years.
Ministry data shows that since 2013, the general size of plantations has steadily decreased yearly. This number was then 1.24 million hectares and is anticipated to drop to 1.22 million hectares in 2016, with an additional reduction expected this 12 months. This fact prompted the federal government to rejuvenate 8,850 hectares of unproductive coffee plantations and open 200 hectares of latest ones in Central Kalimantan. For 2017, Rp 35.51 billion ($2.66 million) was allocated for this purpose.
“Our vision is to increase the size of plantations with the support of government programs and various stakeholders. We need support from the latter because the state budget is limited,” said Bambang, director general of plantations on the Ministry of Agriculture.
Seasonal changes combined with frequent volcanic eruptions have been considered to be the explanations for the decline in plantation size. As plantations decrease, production volume also decreases. Although volume was 675,881 tonnes in 2013, it is anticipated to say no by 5 percent in 2016 to 639,305 tonnes and in 2017 to say no to 637,537 tonnes.
Bambang admitted that the rejuvenation program won’t yield immediate results as coffee plantations often take three years to reap, and guaranteed that the federal government still has just a few tricks up its sleeve to enhance the situation.
Meanwhile, M. Kirom of the Indonesian Association of Coffee Exporters and Industry (AEKI) said Indonesia still had potential to enhance its productivity, which was about 700 kg per hectare in comparison with Vietnam, which produced 3 tons per hectare. “We can increase it to 1.5 tons per hectare and still have better quality than Vietnamese coffee because our soil just naturally lends itself to growing coffee,” he said.
Separately, Indonesian Coffee Growers Association (Apeki) chairman Sumarhum praised the federal government’s move. “In the past, the federal government treated this commodity half-heartedly, but that isn’t the case now. Coffee prices are good and global demand is big, so there isn’t a way the federal government will turn a blind eye to this,” he said.
Source : thejakartapost.com
