Askindo upbeat on 2002 cocoa output<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Association of Indonesian Cocoa Exporters (Askindo) is
\noptimistic that this year's cocoa output target of 400,000 tons
\ncan be achieved given strong motivation for farmers to take
\nproper care of their crops.<\/p>\n
\"Many farmers have now started taking proper care of their
\ncrops again as cocoa prices continue to recover. We are
\noptimistic that this year's target can be achieved,\" Zulhefy
\nSikumbang, the Askindo secretary-general, told The Jakarta Post
\non Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said that as of this month, the price of cocoa had hit a
\nthree-month high of about US$1,975 per ton.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the world's third largest producer of cocoa after
\nthe Ivory Coast and Ghana, exports most of its cocoa to the
\nUnited States, Singapore, Malaysia and Brazil.<\/p>\n
The country's total area under cocoa is estimated at 700,000
\nhectares.<\/p>\n
South Sulawesi has the largest area of cocoa plantations in
\nIndonesia with a total of 134,000 hectares. Together with the
\nprovinces of Southeast and Central Sulawesi, it accounts for 75
\npercent of cocoa output in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The main harvest in these areas normally starts around April
\nand lasts through September.<\/p>\n
Zulhefy, however, warned that cocoa output could decline in
\nyears to come unless all the relevant parties took steps to solve
\nthe problem of pod borer infestation, which had been affecting
\ncrops in recent years in almost all parts of the country.<\/p>\n
Farmers have long complained about the lack of government
\neffort to solve the pod borer problem, which has led to many
\nfarmers neglecting to take proper care of their crops.<\/p>\n
\"Almost 70 percent of cocoa plantations have been attacked by
\npod borers. This can reduce output by some 20 percent each
\nharvest,\" Zulhefy said.<\/p>\n
Askindo earlier unveiled an ambitious target for the country's
\noutput to hit some 1.5 million tons in the next eight years,
\nmaking Indonesia the world largest cocoa producer.<\/p>\n
Zulhefy said that productivity was currently very low at about
\n0.6 tons per hectare compared to 1.5 tons per hectare in the
\nIvory Coast and Ghana.<\/p>\n
\"If we can boost our productivity to about 1.5 tons per
\nhectare, Indonesia could produce some 1.5 million tons of cocoa,\"
\nZulhefy said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/askindo-upbeat-on-2002-cocoa-output-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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