February 19, 2004

Marginal Fall In Indonesian 2003 Soybean Output

Dry soybean output in Indonesia dropped 0.09 per cent to 670,000 tons in 2003 year-on-year.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) attributed the decline to smaller harvest area.

BPS chief Soedarti Surbakti said on Tuesday soybean harvest area in 2003 totaled 530,000 hectares down from 540,000 hectares in 2002.

Mrs Surbakti said productivity improved to 1,277 kg per hectare from 1,236 in 2002.

She said harvest area in 2004 is predicted to expand to 550,000 hectares and productivity is expected to increase to 1,287 kg per hectare.