"The outcome of the replanting will be known in 2013 and 2014."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s agricultural industry is estimated to contribute US$16.96 billion to the country`s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012.

Indonesia`s minister for agriculture, Suswono, said the country`s export value of agricultural commodities from January to September 2012 had reached US$27.22 billion. From January to September 2012, the import value had reached US$10.52 billion.

According to him, palm oil, rubber, tea, coffee and cocoa are the country`s major exports. Indonesia exports these products to China, the US, Europe and India.

He said the plantation sub-sector has contributed US$23.95 billion to the country`s GDP. The export value of products (from plantations) has reached US$26.33 billion and the import value has reached US$2.3 billion.

However, the deficit of food plantation and horticulture sub-sectors could be as high as US$4.4 billion and US$1.1 billion respectively.

He said the export value of food plantation products is US$110.3 million while the import value is US$4.54 billion. The export value of horticultural commodities has reached US$368.8 million while the import value has reached US$1.52 billion.

The minister said the animal husbandry sub-sector is also expected to suffer a deficit of up to US$1.6 billion. The value of exports has reached US$409.1 million and the value of imports has reached US$2.08 billion.

He said although the plantation sub-sector has recorded a trade surplus, only rubber has surpassed the production target by 9 percent (total: 109 percent).

The production of palm oil has reached 83 percent of the target, coconut has reached 94 percent, coffee has reached 89 percent, cocoa has reached 59 percent, pepper has reached 96 percent and tea has reached 83 percent, he added.

Regarding the decline in the production of cocoa, which was recorded at only 55 percent, the minister said it was due to the replanting of cocoa trees in the country.

"The outcome of the replanting will be known in 2013 and 2014," he said.
(Uu.H-YH/INE/R-BSR/B003) 26-12-2012 18:23:41

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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