November 19, 2007

Indonesia aims soy self-sufficiency in 2015

Indonesia is set to be self sufficient in soy in 2015 despite falling production in the past seven years, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono said.

The country targets increased production by 2010 and be self-sufficient in 2015 to reduce dependence on imports, Anton said.

In 2000, the country's production of soy totalled 1.01 million tonnes, down to 827,000 tonnes in 2001 and to 749,000 tonnes in 2006, he said.

Soy production has continued to shrink as the country concentrated more on other strategic food products such as rice, corn, sugar and meat, he said.

Last year the country's production of rice rose to 54.4 million tonnes, corn to 11.61 million tonnes, sugar to 22.66 million tonnes and beef to 389,000 tonnes, he added.

The country still depends on imports for 64.8 percent of its soy requirement, 11.23 percent of corn, 37.48 percent of sugar and 29.09 percent for beef.