EXPERTS HAIL BAN ON FRUIT IMPORT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 11 (Antara) - Different quarters, including experts, hail the Indonesia's decision to impose a six-month ban on the importation of 13 horticultural products, despite the fact that the United States has filed a complaint with the WTO.          The government, as per January-June 2013, has imposed a ban on the importation of durian, banana, pineapple and a restriction on the importation of melon, mango, papaya, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, peppers, orchids, chrysanthemums and heliconia flowers in an effort to protect local growers and boost the country's horticultural production.          "The government has decided to impose a ban on the importation of horticultural commodities, including fruits and vegetables in a sustainable way because local farmers always have  difficulties marketing their commodities during grand harvest time," Professor Dewa Ngurah Suprapta of the Denpasar-based Udayana University said on Sunday.          The same support also came from the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI). It said the government's decision to ban fruit imports in six months' time was is very constructive move to boost the spirit of local fruit growers.          "The decision set forth in the joint regulation of the agriculture minister and the trade minister number 60/2012 is praiseworthy," HKTI chief for trade Ismet Hasan Putro said.            Ismet who is also the president director of state-owned plantation company PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (RNI) said the association positively welcomed the policy which sided with the Indonesian farmers.          Hopefully, there would be more policies which would favor the local farmers' interests in the future, he said.          "Now is the time for us to be consistent in achieving self-reliance in food and horticultural production. As a nation, we must love local fruits and vegetables," Ismet said.           According to Suprapta, the policy is quite proper since Indonesia has a vast area of fertile land.     The government's policy to ban the importation of 13 horticultural commodities will boost farmers to develop their potentials optimally, the expert asserted said.         "If the potentials are developed maximally and supported by adequate infrastructures throughout the country, Indonesia will be able to achieve food security," said Suprapta, who is a lecturer at the university's school of agriculture.          But he added that infrastructures, including roads and seaports in the eastern parts of Indonesia still pose an obstacle to the marketing of agricultural products.          "The abundant agricultural commodities in a certain area during the harvest time do not have economic value because they cannot be marketed to other areas due to transportation problem," said Suprapta.          Therefore, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) called on the government to also improve infrastructural facilities as part of its efforts to boost local horticultural production.           Infrastructure is important to create connectivity. The government should improve supporting infrastructures to create connectivity among areas or islands in the country.          "Connectivity among areas must be developed so that the people will like the local agricultural products very much," Kadin Chairman Suryo Bambang Sulisto said meanwhile.           Besides that   Kadin also urged the  government to provide incentives to local fruit producers in line with its policy to restrict the import of fresh fruits, Suryo Bambang Sulisto said.          "Indonesia is an agrarian country so it is not difficult to increase its fruit production. It is easy to produce fruits and vegetables so why don't we do that," he said after attending a seminar on 2013 outlook on Wednesday.          The incentives may encourage local fruit and vegetable growers to increase their production, he said. "Give them incentives, boosts and facilities so they can increase their production. We have the capability to do so," he said.          According to agricultural export Hs Dillon, the government's move to ban the importation of 13 horticultural products is a good step to support local farmers but still it is not yet enough because local growers need a concerted and comprehensive policy.         "A ban is not enough. There must be a comprehensive pro-farmer policy on the development agriculture that would guarantee the future of farmers," said Dillon when contacted in Jakarta on Friday.         Dillon is of the opinion that Indonesia could produce all kinds of fruit and vegetable products so that it does not need to import them.         "We have regions which can constantly produce fruit and vegetables along the year," Dillon said. Therefore, the government should provide farmers with incentives they need. They need such incentives as good quality seeds, enough infrastructures and freedom from illegal levies.          "We acknowledge that fruit is not our staple but if we can produce ourselves why should import it," he said.          Thus, the imposition of the ban on fruits and vegetables is a correct step to protect local products. The ban according to the Ministry of Agriculture is imposed as part of the efforts to boost local products. The policy is also taken on  consideration that the local supply of horticultural produce is already enough to meet local needs.          However, The United States has filed a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) challenging Indonesia's ban on the import of 13 different horticultural products.          Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa defended on Thursday the six-month import ban. "We must protect local horticultural products because they are related to the future of our farmers," he said after a coordination meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs building.          The minister noted that local farmers have difficulties exporting horticultural products.          At the current harvest time the domestic supply of horticultural products is more than enough and thus, the country does not need to import the commodities, he said.        "So what's wrong to protect them? We are ready to face any complaint," he said.          Earlier, Agriculture Minister Suswono said he was confident the government would win the lawsuit filed by the US to the WTO against the ban.          "We do not object (to the US protesting against) a loophole in the policy, if any. And we have prepared the reply. So, we are very optimistic that if the US is fair they will accept our argumentation," he said.***3*** (T.A014/f001   ) (T.A. Abdussalam/A/A. Abdussalam/F. Assegaf) 11-02-2013 10:58: