JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman together with the Palm Results Regency Government Coalition (KOPEK) agreed to accelerate the development of downstream and the national coconut industry to accelerate the added value of coconut products.
"This morning we met with coconut associations, Indonesian coconuts are currently in demand by the world. Where China imports and several other countries including Malaysia imports coconut from Indonesia," he said after holding an audience with KOPEK in Jakarta, quoted from his official statement, Sunday, May 25.
The increasing demand for coconut from other countries has contributed to a significant increase in prices. "The price of coconut rose high from Rp. 1,300 to Rp. 4,000, Rp. 5,000, even Rp. 7,000 per kilo. So now, congratulations to Indonesian coconut farmers," said Amran.
Responding to this trend, his party ensures that it will immediately accelerate the development of the coconut industry from upstream to downstream, especially in producing centers. He also asked KOPEK to be more active and seriously encourage downstream programs, including attracting investment.
Not only that, as part of a strategy to increase productivity and land efficiency, Amran also encourages an overlapping system of coconuts.
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He requested that coconut fields also be planted with rice, corn, cocoa or other agroclimat-fit food commodities. This step is believed to increase farmers' income and support national food security.
"We have to maximize the land. Under coconut we can grow rice, it can also be corn. So farmers harvest coconut, harvest also corn and rice. This is a way to accelerate self-sufficiency and increase farmers' income," said Amran.
Amran said the audience with coconut farmers was a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto's directive in a limited meeting on May 23, which wants to accelerate national downstream projects and priority projects in various strategic sectors, including agriculture.
"On the orders of the President, we will build a downstream industry, God willing, starting this year," he said.
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