Fruit farmers will get low-interest loans<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has designated a number of banks
\nto provide loans to farmers carrying a low interest rate for the
\ndevelopment of the horticultural industry.<\/p>\n
The loans, which will amount up to Rp 2 million for each
\nhectare of land used for horticultural planting, will carry an
\nannual interest rate of 14 percent -- far lower than normal
\ninterest rates ranging from 18 percent to 20 percent per annum,
\nthe director for horticultural development of the Ministry of
\nAgriculture, Winarno, told a press conference here yesterday.<\/p>\n
He said that for the first stage, the loans will be provided
\nfor the planting of six types of fruit.<\/p>\n
The six commodities are banana, pineapple, papaya, orange,
\nmarkisa (passion fruit) and salak (Zallaca palm fruit).<\/p>\n
Winarno, who declined to specify the names of the designated
\nbanks, said that the loans are part of the ministry's policy to
\ndevelop agribusiness and agroindustry.<\/p>\n
"In order to boost the growth of agroindustry, the development
\nof our horticultural industry, which is currently dominated by
\nfarmers planting fruit trees in their courtyards, will be offered
\nto large entities," he said. "The economic scale of the
\nhorticultural development will need at least 500 hectares for
\neach plantation area."<\/p>\n
Since 1991-92, the government has assisted groups of farmers
\nin establishing 120,000 hectares for agricultural production in
\nvarious provinces.<\/p>\n
Winarno said the development of the horticultural industry
\nwill also include the application of technology which can lead to
\nthe standardization of fruit quality.<\/p>\n
Goeswono Soepardi, president of PT Galasari Gunungswadaya of
\nGresik, East Java, said that quality standardization is a must if
\nIndonesia wants to participate in the international markets.<\/p>\n
"We exported five tons of mangoes to Singapore last week and
\nthe importer asked us to send 18 more tons next week but we
\ncannot meet the demand due to limitations in production,"
\nGoeswono said. "It is also impossible for us to send mangoes from
\nfarmers' plantations which produce fruit of an inferior quality."<\/p>\n
He suggested that fruit producers and farmers establish an
\nassociation, which expected to introduce standardization of
\nproduct quality.<\/p>\n
Currently, Indonesia's share on the international tropical
\nfruit market is only 0.6 percent. (als)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fruit-farmers-will-get-low-interest-loans-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}