The Ministry Of Industry Runs This Program To Improve Kakao Productivity

Illustration: Photo: Doc. ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) has implemented a number of strategic programs to boost cocoa productivity.

It is known, Indonesian cocoa production only reaches 0.2 tons per hectare/year.

The programs include "Cocoa Doctor" and extensification of former mining land.

For the "Cocoa Doctor" program, Deputy Minister of Industry (Wamenperin) Faisol Riza explained, the program is in collaboration with PT Mars Symbioscience Indonesia through continuous cocoa human resources training.

"Since 2024, this program has coached 450 Cocoa Doctors and reached more than 40,000 cocoa farmers throughout Indonesia," said Faisol at the opening of the Business Matching event and the Indonesian Product Exhibition entitled "Specialty Indonesia 2025" at the Ministry of Industry Building, Jakarta, Monday, August 4.

The Ministry of Industry also relies on an extensification program for the use of former mining land, social forestry and industrial plantation forests to boost cocoa production.

The program is targeted to increase cocoa productivity from 0.2 tons per hectare per year to 1.5 tons per hectare per year.

"And it is projected to increase the production of cocoa beans by 450,000 tons in 10 years," he said.

In addition, the Ministry of Industry also encourages the artist chocolate industry growth program.

This is so that the price of cocoa can be more competitive and increase chocolate consumption.

Thus, domestic industries can continue to grow.

"In 2025, the number of artist chocolate companies was recorded at 47 companies, an increase from 31 companies in 2023," explained Faisol.

Meanwhile, in terms of exports, based on BPS and International Trade Statistics data in 2024, the export value of the cocoa processing industry reached 2.4 billion US dollars with a volume of 304,000 tons. The cocoa is exported to 110 countries, including the United States, India, China and Malaysia.

Apart from cocoa, Faisol also encourages the strengthening of the coffee and tea industry.

For coffee, Faisol said, based on Economics of Coffee 2024, Indonesia ranks to be the world's coffee producer.

In 2024, national processed coffee exports will reach US$661 million, an increase of 4.39 percent compared to 2023.

In addition, 54 types of Indonesian coffee have also obtained Geographical Indication Certification (IG).

At the prestigious Specialty Coffee Expo 2025 exhibition in the United States, coffee from various regions in the archipelago has also recorded a potential transaction of 30 million US dollars.

Meanwhile, for tea, Faisol said, Indonesia's tea production in 2024 is estimated at 124,041 tons with an export value of 36,738 tons or 59.24 million US dollars.

This places Indonesia as the world's 11th largest export of tea with a global market of around 1.3 percent.