Vice President Wants Indonesia to Become the World's Largest Cocoa Producer

`Currently our cocoa production is still ranked third in the world below Ivory Coast and Ghana. With 1.7 million hectares of land, Indonesia can actually become the world’s number one,` he said in Kendari, Sunday.The expected increase is the farmers’ production which previously only 500 kg/hectare is increased to one tonne/hectare.To realize it, intensification of extension is needed so that cocoa farmers can understand how to cultivate the commodity well.`There must be assistance, extension and seedlings for farmers so that our farmers can increase their production,` he said.Focus on resolving the problem of inadequate extension and lack of seedlings which is deemed some of the main problems of the commodity development in the country, in addition to the age of plants which has also grown old thus decreasing the productivity.That is why there should be plant rejuvenation. In addition, farmers must also be supported by giving capital assistance in the form of people’s business credit (KUR) to assist them in terms of capital.
Editor: Aditia Marulihttp://www.antaranews.com/berita/536142/wapres-ingin-indonesia-jadi-penghasil-kakao-terbesar-dunia