Bali has low coffee productivity

Ni Komang Erviani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Fri, 04/24/2009 12:54 PM  |  Bali

Head of the Bali Plantation Agency I Gde Ardhana said the yield of the island's coffee plantations was less than ideal, with production at 600 kilograms of beans per hectare.

"Ideally, we could get 800 kilograms of dried coffee beans per hectare," he said.

"Only a few farmers can produce up to 3 tons of dried coffee beans per hectare."

Ardhana said poor knowledge of new coffee cultivation methods was the main cause of low production.

"The farmers are likely to cultivate their coffee plants in a traditional way which means they tend to let their plants grow at a natural pace rather than encouraging growth through routine up-keep," he said.

Bali has a total of 32,000 hectares of coffee plantations and produces 19,200 tons of coffee per year, as recorded by the plantation agency.

"The level of production is way too low compared to Bali's potential as a dried coffee bean producer," said Ardhana.

"Due to its unique taste, coffee is one of Bali's best exports."

To boost coffee production, the Bali Plantation Agency has organized intensive education forums targeting coffee farmers about the importance of routine maintenance, such as how to prune leaves, dispense fertilizer and control pests.

Nevertheless, the agency's activity is challenged by trainer shortages, said Ardhana.

"We only have 104 field educators to carry out the forums," he said.

"The field educators are tasked not only with supervising coffee farmers but farmers of other products as well."

Meanwhile, Komang Dodo, a coffee farmer from Batungsel village, Tabanan regency, said on average he produced 1 ton of dried coffee beans per hectare.

Dodo, who owns 4 hectares of coffee plantations, said farmers should better maintain their plantations to boost their production capacity.

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