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Luwak-coffee farmers see bright future behind protests
Luwak-coffee farmers in West Lampung are positive despite massive protests launched by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals over what it deemed was endemic animal abuse in the coffee-making process
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uwak-coffee farmersin West Lampung are positive despite massive protests launched by the Peoplefor the Ethical Treatment of Animals over what it deemed was endemic animalabuse in the coffee-making process.
'We still see this as good business with a great market. Critics and complainants are something we should be able to live with,' Paryoto, one of the West Lampung farmers, said on Saturday.
Speaking in chorus, Wahyu Anggoro, another farmer, acknowledged that the business was currently in good shape. He said many big investors had started to show an interest in the business.
He said the coffee was a favorite of many foreign tourists. In fact, he added, there were some big traders from countries like Thailand who came to West Lampung directly to buy the coffee.
On Friday, Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krishnamurti, in support of the farmers said he suspected business rivalry was behind the protests and that rallies were only organized to make Indonesian luwak coffee farmers look bad.
'We cannot generalize that all farmers abuse these animal. This is the same with dairy farmers and how they milk cows,' he said.
To date there are 10 farmer groups in West Lampung that rely on the luwak coffee business. These groups can sell luwak coffee for up to 700 quintal per month with Rp 1 million (US$95) per kg. These farmers export the coffee to countries like South Korea and Taiwan.(dic)
