February 28, 2008

Indonesia's South Sumatra to expand soy acreage on surge of demand

Indonesia's South Sumatra officials said soy plantations would be increased this year to 13,000 hectares to address the surge of demand coming specifically from small food processing industries.

Trisbani Arif, head of the regional food crop office, said South Sumatra already has 4,000 hectares of soy plantations and the province aims to expand its plantations to 13,000 hectares in 2008.

Overall, Indonesia's soy plantations will be expanded to 100,000 hectares this year, prompted by stronger domestic need.

The recent record prices of soy in the global market resulted to a domestic shortage of the commodity.

The country is still heavily reliant on soy imports.