"The insect has caused the decline in cocoa production."Palu (ANTARA News) - A total of 2,550 tons of cocoa bean have been exported from Central Sulawesi since January to April 2012, local industry and cooperatives service spokesman Abdul Muin said here on Tuesday.
According to him, the export of cocoa bean during that period of time had produced the foreign exchange of US$5.86 million.
Compared to the same period in 2011, Abdul said there was an increase in volume and value.
He noted that during the first semester in 2011, Central Sulawesi exported 995 tons of cocoa bean which earned US$3,10 million in foreign exchange, but in the same period in 2012 it was US$5.86 million, or rose to around 88.6 percent.
Abdul said some 12 export companies were actively exporting cocoa bean from Central Sulawesi every month, but it slowed down in the past two years because of insect disturbance.
"The insect has caused the decline in cocoa production and its export the past two years," he said.
(Uu.O001/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
