"I hope Fruit Indonesia 2016 expo will be an initial step in making Indonesia a major fruit exporting country, thus improving the welfare of fruit farmers," the Head of State said, in his opening remarks of the Fourth Fruit Indonesia 2016 festival held at Senayan eastern park area, here on Thursday.
Indonesia has a huge potential to become one of the worlds largest fruit exports, because the country has been blessed with fertile land and fruits that are abundant both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Every region in Indonesia has its respective specific fruits that have been cultivated in large scales.
Fruit plantations are not only good to produce fruits for domestic and international markets but also for agro-tourism.
Fruit is an integral part of Indonesias culture, as many local rituals and ceremonies make use of fruits.
Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said at least 12 varieties of local fruits have been recognized as Indonesias endemic fruits.
"They are Balinese keprok pomelos, durians, mangoes, mangosteens, avocados, pineapples, rambutans, salaks, bananas, papayas, melons and watermelons," the minister said.
In 2014, Indonesia produced 1,999 tons of oranges, 856 thousand tons of durians, 2,464 tons of mangoes, 111 thousand tons of mangosteens, 306 thousand tons of avocados, 1,874 tons of pineapples, 733 thousand tons of rambutans, 1,036 tons of salaks, 1,080 tons of bananas, 830 thousand tons of papayas, 184 thousand tons of melons and 684 thousand tons of watermelons.
"Having a huge amount of fruit productions, we could export them and thus reduce fruit imports. According to data of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in 2014, Indonesia ranks 20th in the world fruit exporter list," he said.
Some 25 to 35 typical Indonesian fruits are offered in Fruit Indonesia 2016 festival, Meika Syahbana Rusli, chairperson of the organizing committee, said.
They include avocados, mangoes, pineapples, rambutans, durians, papayas, mangosteens, star fruits, bananas, salaks, litchis, guavas, sawos, kedondongs, passion fruits, jackfruits, Ambon bananas, tangerine oranges, watermelons, dukus, lemons, dragon fruits, melons, crystal guavas, bengkoangs, soursop fruits and yellow watermelons.
Many exotic but rare Indonesian fruits are also available in the expo, such as kecapis, Bunis, jamblangs, binjais, cermais, gandarias, diospyros blancois, pomegranates, cantaloupes, kaffir limes, passion fruits, cempedaks, Dutch eggplants, purple passion fruits, matoas, persimmons, breadfruits, rukems, langsats and red durians.
Some 500 exhibitors from 82 districts and cities in 19 provinces are taking part in the fruit festival, which was organized for the first time in 2013 but was called the Nusantara Flower and Fruit Festival.
The festival is expected to be visited by at least 15 thousand people, including from ASEAN member countries such as China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Australia, New Zealand, as well as European and American countries.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
