"A big trader recently called me by phone asking for large supply of coffee beans."Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - Coffee growers in the regency of Kepahiang, Bengkulu province, asked the government to invite investors to build a coffee processing factory in that area.
The basic material is available from the local farmers, a small trade Zurdinata said in Kepahian on Monday.
So far the local farmers have to sell their coffee to big traders from the neighboring province of Lampung, Zurdinata said.
The farmers and small traders depend on the big traders to dispose of their commodity, he said.
The big traders tend to dictate the prices much lower than the prevailing price in the market, he said.
The regency of Kepahiang produces thousands of tons of coffee bean every year, but lately the production is declining as the prices did not encourage growers.
In addition, many farmers are in the process of replanting, Zurdinata said.
"A big trader recently called me by phone asking for large supply of coffee beans but I could not meet the order as production is declining," he said.
The farmers would be encouraged if a processing factory was built in the district to provide a captive market, he said.
Currently the price of dry coffee beans in Kepahiang is around Rp16,000 per kg, up slightly from Rp15,500 earlier.
(Uu.AS/H-ASG/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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