REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUTA - As the third largest cocoa producer in the world, Indonesia produces 700,000-800,000 tonnes cocoa per hectare per year in 2012. Indonesia sets target to produce 1.5 million tonnes cocoa per hectare per year by 2016.

"Our cocoa production is increasing. Last year, we only produced 400,000 tonnes per hectare per year," Minister of Agriculture, Suswono, said on Monday during the 87th Meeting of International Cocoa Council in Bali. The meeting is attended by cocoa producing countries, such as Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Brazil and Ecuador. Cocoa importers such as Netherlands, UK, Germany, Switzerland and Russia, are also invited.

Ivory Coast leads the world in production of cocoa beans with the production of 1.4 million tonnes per hectare per year. Minister Suswono said Indonesia could surpass Ivory Coast by producing 1.5 million tonnes per hectare per year because Indonesia currently had 1.5 million hectare of cocoa farms. 

Indonesia actively rejuvenates old cocoa trees and maintaining them to reach the target. Since the rejuvenation program in 2008, cocoa's production doubled from 400,000 tonnes to 800,000 tonnes. Suswono is optimistic that Indonesia will become the largest producer of cocoa beans in the world.

Executive Director of International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), C'Ote D'Woire, predicted global cocoa market would keep stable regarding the increasing demand. "Our task is to balance market demand and supply power," he said.

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