RI to imports soybeans

RI to imports soybeans

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is likely to import around 760,000
tons of soybean this year to meet the nation's demand for the
crop, says an official.

A.M. Fagi, the head of the research and development department
at the Ministry of Agriculture said Monday that the demand for
soybeans is projected to be 2.76 million tons this year, while
the country's total soybean production will be around two million
tons.

He said the government's program to boost soybean production
in the country showed no significant progress as most farmers
still considered soybeans as a second-class commodity after rice.

As a consequence, the growth rate of soybean production
remains low, at about 3.2 percent per annum. The growth in demand
by comparison, is 5.7 percent per annum. (hen)