Indonesia bans import of 11 horticultural products

The Indonesian government did not give the Recommended Imports for Horticultural Products (RIPH) for 11 types of horticultural products for the period January to June 2013. The fruits and vegetables are banned from entering Indonesia as the domestic demand is still met.

The products are five types of fruit: pineapple, papaya, melon, banana, and durian; three kinds of flowers, orchid, chrysanthemum, and heliconia. "Three kinds of vegetables; the cabbage, peppers, and broccoli, are also banned," said Deputy Minister of Agriculture Rusman Heriawan, Wednesday, January 23.

The government is also restricting the import quota of shallots, garlic, onions, oranges, apples, and frozen potatoes. Based on data from the Agriculture Ministry, in 2013, onion import quota is set at some 24,000 tons, the quota for shallot and garlic are 13,000 tons and 184,000, respectively.

At the same time, the domestic supply of fruit is being disrupted by bad weather. "Due to rain and floods, supplies are disrupted. The price of Lampung papaya had increased from Rp 1,000 to Rp 2,000 per kilogram," Kafi Kurnia, Chairman of the Indonesian of Exporters and Importers of Fruits Vegetables, said.

Source: Tempointeractive.com