Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA Sulsel) - Industries have not yet provided adequate assistance and guidance to cacao farmers, causing them to be still unable to thrive well, a local agricultural official reported.
"Apart from the government, industries also have the obligation to provide optimal assistance and guidance to cacao farmers, as both are mutually dependent," Bambang, head of South Sulawesi`s Agriculture and Horticulture Service, stated here on Tuesday.
He noted that from the corporate social responsibility (CSR) aspect, industries must be encouraged to provide assistance to farmers, so that the need for improved quality and quantity of cacao production could be met.
Sony Satari of the Indonesian Cacao Companies Association stated that not all the firms with the CSR could offer full assistance to farmers in the field.
He pointed out that assistance, however, does not always necessarily mean financial assistance. It can also be in the form of training and so on.
He said that with the issuance of the Agriculture Minister`s Regulation No. 67/2014 on Quality and Cacao Bean Fermentation, the farmers` production is expected to improve, and in the future, Indonesia will not have to import the commodity to meet its needs.
"So far, we have been importing cacao from Ghana for local mixture to achieve the required flavor and standards of processed cacao," he added.
Chairman of South Luwu`s Cacao Farmers` Association in Reso Pammase, H Cinding, stated that farmers have conducted cacao bean fermentation.
"The problem is that there is not much difference in the price of fermented and non-fermented beans, so the farmers prefer to sell their cacao beans without fermentation," he added.
Penerjemah : Bessr
"Apart from the government, industries also have the obligation to provide optimal assistance and guidance to cacao farmers, as both are mutually dependent," Bambang, head of South Sulawesi`s Agriculture and Horticulture Service, stated here on Tuesday.
He noted that from the corporate social responsibility (CSR) aspect, industries must be encouraged to provide assistance to farmers, so that the need for improved quality and quantity of cacao production could be met.
Sony Satari of the Indonesian Cacao Companies Association stated that not all the firms with the CSR could offer full assistance to farmers in the field.
He pointed out that assistance, however, does not always necessarily mean financial assistance. It can also be in the form of training and so on.
He said that with the issuance of the Agriculture Minister`s Regulation No. 67/2014 on Quality and Cacao Bean Fermentation, the farmers` production is expected to improve, and in the future, Indonesia will not have to import the commodity to meet its needs.
"So far, we have been importing cacao from Ghana for local mixture to achieve the required flavor and standards of processed cacao," he added.
Chairman of South Luwu`s Cacao Farmers` Association in Reso Pammase, H Cinding, stated that farmers have conducted cacao bean fermentation.
"The problem is that there is not much difference in the price of fermented and non-fermented beans, so the farmers prefer to sell their cacao beans without fermentation," he added.
Penerjemah : Bessr