RI horticultural exports poor
JAKARTA (JP): The lack of an integrated concept to develop the horticulture industry is the cause of Indonesia's poor record of horticultural exports, an academic said over the weekend.
The Bogor Agricultural University school of agricultural mechanization's Hadi K. Purwadaria said although Indonesia had good potential, its horticultural exports last year made up less than 0.5 percent of world horticultural market.
Hadi, who became a professor at the university on Saturday, said Indonesia needed an integrated concept to develop its horticulture industry if it wanted to increase production and post-harvest processing.
"This should include commercial activities like the provision of high-quality seeds, the production and processing of horticultural produce and the creation of viable and profit- oriented businesses," he said.
Indonesian fruit exports rose from 5.8 million tons in 1990 to 8.1 million tons in 1995 while vegetable exports rose from 5.7 million tons to 6.7 million tons.
Hadi said Indonesia could increase horticultural exports because there was a big market.
In 1995 Japan imported US$1.68 billion worth of fruit while Hong Kong and Taiwan imported $752.5 million and $233.9 million worth respectively.
Japan also imported $630 million of vegetables, Hong Kong imported $174 million worth and Taiwan,$18 million worth.
Indonesia's orchid exports that year were worth $1.4 million, far less than Singapore's which were worth $18.2 million.
"Indonesia urgently needs to increase the production and quality of its horticultural produce," he said.
Hadi said agencies and associations from various disciplines should cooperate to achieve this.
"The application of agricultural engineering ... starting from seed production to processing, will help speed up the process," he said.
During Saturday's ceremony Betty Sri Laksmi Jenie was also made a professor at the university's school of food and nutrition technology.
Betty's speech looked at the potential of biotechnology providing healthy food. (pwn)