Indonesia aims for zero imports of garlic in 2018
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The government is looking to achieve its goal of zero garlic imports in 2018, following an expansion of garlic farms across the country.
“We aim to see 100,000 hectares of garlic farms next year. If 1 hectare [ha] can produce 5 tons of garlic, we won’t need to import anymore,” Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Agung Hendriadi told over the phone on Tuesday.
Annual garlic consumption for household and industrial needs reached 500,000 tons in 2015, but only 20,000 tons of it was planted domestically. The remaining 480,000 tons were imported from China and India, ministry data shows.
Last year, the government expanded garlic farms, which jacked up the national production of garlic to almost 200,000 tons.
Indonesia in the 1990s supplied most of its garlic to the domestic market, but gradually the farmers were discouraged from planting it due to a continuous decline in prices. Now, there are only 2,000 ha of garlic plantations, a massive decrease from the 28,000 ha of plantations in the 1990s.
Agung also said that the Trade Ministry had set maximum price of Rp 38,000 per kilogram for garlic and would maintain the price to encourage farmers to cultivate garlic.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary target the Indonesian government has set to become self-sufficient in garlic?
What is the primary target the Indonesian government has set to become self-sufficient in garlic?
The government aims for 100,000 hectares of garlic farms to be established by next year. This expansion is projected to produce enough garlic domestically to eliminate the need for imports.
Q.How much garlic did Indonesia consume annually in 2015, and what proportion of that was imported?
How much garlic did Indonesia consume annually in 2015, and what proportion of that was imported?
Indonesia consumed 500,000 tons of garlic in 2015 for household and industrial needs. Of this, 480,000 tons were imported, primarily from China and India.
Q.What measures is the Trade Ministry taking to encourage farmers to cultivate garlic?
What measures is the Trade Ministry taking to encourage farmers to cultivate garlic?
The Trade Ministry has set a maximum price of Rp 38,000 per kilogram for garlic. This price will be maintained to provide an incentive for farmers to plant the crop.
Q.What caused the decline in domestic garlic production in Indonesia after the 1990s?
What caused the decline in domestic garlic production in Indonesia after the 1990s?
Farmers were discouraged from planting garlic due to a continuous decline in prices. This led to a significant reduction in the total area of garlic plantations over time.
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