Increase In Price Encourages Soy Farmers

Jakarta, Jan 30 (Antara) - The soybean price increase to Rp8 thousand per kilogram coupled with the State Logistics Agency`s (Bulog`s) guarantee to purchase it at Rp7.5 thousand per kilogram have perked up local soy farmers, according to a minister. "Soy farmers are now perking up again, following an improvement in the purchasing price," stated Agriculture Minister Suswono, after signing a cooperation agreement between the Army and the Ministry of Agriculture at Army Headquarters, here on Wednesday. The minister noted that the farmers were reluctant to grow soy earlier, because of the fluctuating prices; they are now encouraged to do so after the government offered price incentives to them. "Many farmers prefer planting rice and corn, but they have now turned to planting soy because of the good purchasing price," the minister pointed out. However, he added that the limited availability of farmlands has become a new problem for the farmers. Therefore, the agriculture minister suggested that the soy farmers be given enough farmland outside Java Island where they can grow the commodity.