Coffee harvest to decline

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of the Indonesian Coffee Exporters estimates a drop of up to 60 percent in Indonesia's coffee production this year because of drought, Antara reported Saturday.

The association's chairman, Oesman Soedargo, was quoted as saying the coffee harvest for 1997 was projected to fall to 180,000 tons this year from 500,000 tons because of draught and too much rain in late 1996.

"The condition has also led to a drastic fall in exports," Oesman said.

Domestic demand consumes about 120,000 tons of coffee.

Oesman said 70 percent of the country's coffee production came from Lampung, South Sumatra, and Bengkulu, while the remaining 30 percent was from eastern Indonesia provinces.

About 90 percent of production is Robusta Coffee, which sells for about US$1.50 a kilogram, less than Arabica Coffee. (08)