Kakao Farmers In Lebak Sambut Positive Kakao Price Reaches IDR 135 Thousand

Kakao Farmers in Lebak Regency, Banten welcome the price of these plantation commodities to soar to penetrate the price of IDR 135 thousand per kilogram (Between)

LEBAK - cocoa farmers in Lebak Regency, Banten positively welcomed the price of these plantation commodities soaring high to penetrate the price of IDR 135 thousand per kilogram.

"We are happy that the price of cocoa is now relatively good to reach Rp135,000 per kilogram and that is the first leg with the highest price in history," said Mahfud, a brown farmer when met at a plantation commodity kiosk at Rangkasbitung Market, Lebak Regency, Sunday.

The price of dry cocoa commodities reaching Rp135,000 per kilogram is certainly quite profitable for farmers' income, where the price of cocoa was previously below Rp100,000 per kilogram. The increase in cocoa prices to reach Rp135,000 per kilogram is confirmed by farmers to welcome it with joy.

It is likely that farmers are more enthusiastic about developing these plant cultivations in order to increase people's economic income.

"We are now selling 100 kilograms of dry cocoa by producing revenue of Rp135 million at a price of Rp135,000 per kilogram," he explained.

Ahmad (58), a farmer, admitted that his party was relieved that the price of dry cocoa had penetrated Rp. 135 thousand from the previous Rp. 100,000 per kilogram. The increase in cocoa prices certainly encourages farmers' income to increase, so that it can help the family's economy.

"We sell 1 quintal or 100 kilograms of dry cocoa, which can produce Rp135 million," he explained.

Head of the Production Division of the Lebak Regency Agriculture Service, Deni Iskandar, said the increase in cocoa commodity prices was due to increased market demand, while the availability of chocolate was relatively limited.

Currently, cocoa prices are following the world market and supply from Africa as the largest cocoa-producing country in the world is dropping due to climate change, causing the productivity of cocoa trees there to fall.

Therefore, his party asked farmers to continue to develop the plantation cultivation, because data on cocoa plants in Lebak Regency was recorded at 5,752 hectares with a productivity of 2,280 tons.

"We hope that in the future the cocoa commodity can make the farmers' economic mainstay," he said