Government Urged To Reduce Import Of Horticultural Products

Jakarta, July 2 (Antara) - The People`s Coalition for Food Sovereignty (KRKP) has urged the government to reduce the import of horticultural products for the sake of protecting the farmers. KRKP Advocacy and Networking Officer Said Abdullah said here on Tuesday that the government has opened the door to imports 13 horticultural products after the rise of subsidized fuel prices. He said the government has issued the import approval letter for the second semester in 2013 to import 13 horticultural products of 260,064 tons as a pretext to maintain price stability and attenuate the impact of fuel oil price hike. Therefore Abdullah he urged the government to be serious in handling the horticultural products and reduce the import. He added that the government should support and motivate the farmers to continue to increase horticultural products and to gradually reduce the import. Indonesia`s horticultural imports reached 1.5 million tons with a total value of US$1.2 billion in 2010 and in 2011 it increased to 2.05 million tons with the value of US$1.6 billion. Then in 2012 it rose again by 2.2 million tons with import value of US$1.8 billion. Abdullah said that the increase in horticultural import has caused its negative trade balance.