Jokowi Plans Rp1.2 Trillion Investment to Revitalize Cocoa Plantations

Mamuju, W Sulawesi (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said he would set aside Rp1.2 trillion for the revitalization of the country's cocoa plantations.

The revitalization is in a bid to support the country's ambition to become the world largest cocoa producer, Jokowi  said during his visit to West Sulawesi, on Thursday.

"The revitalization is expected to take three to four years starting 2015," he told cocoa farmers in  Saletto in the district of Mamuju, West Sulawesi.

The president asked Minister of Agrarian affairs Ferry Mursidan to immediately prepare the certificate for the people's plantations.

He also asked banks to help with credits for cocoa plantations.

 He said he would encourage development of cocoa processing industry  in cocoa production centers.  
 He said in three years Indonesia should be the world's largest producer of cocoa .

Currently the country is the third largest producer after the Ivory Coast and Ghana in Africa.

"For that purpose the farmers need to work the harder," he said.

Earlier Jokowi inspected irrigation system in  Beru-Beru, Mamuju  and symbolically distributed the Healthy Indonesian cards, Smart Indonesian cards  and Prosperous Family cards to a number of the villager.

With the cards the farmers are entitled to free medical treatment   and educational cost for their children.(WDY)