RI coffee exports to Italy declining: minister

In response to the problem, plantations director general at the Agriculture Ministry, Ahmad Manggabarani, admitted Indonesia`s coffee exports to Italy had been declining, but not to other countries.

"In general, coffee production increases but exports have been fluctuating," he said.

Data available at the Agriculture Ministry showed the land the cultivation of robusta coffee reached 1.17 million hectares with a production of 596,000 tons per year while the coffee plantations cover 101,876 hectares of land with a production of 61,251 tons.

Between 2004 and 2006, Indonesia`s coffee exports had been fluctuating. The exports in 2004 reached 344,077 tons worth US$294.11 million, in 2005 reached 445,829 tons (US$503.83 million) and in 2006 amounted to 139,724 tons (US$187.91 million).