Bali to Open 7,000 Hectares of Soybean Plantations

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The food crop farming service of Bali said it has a target to open 7,000 hectares of soybean plantations this year.

Realization until July, however, has reached only 57 percent or 4,000 hectares, the service chief, Ida Bagus Wisnuardana, said here on Tuesday.

Wisnuardana, however expressed optimism the target could be reached in the remaining months of the year.

The government has encourage expansion of soybean plantations to reduce the country's dependence on imports for the food commodity .

The rupiah fall against the US dollar has  resulted in soaring price of imported goods including soybean triggering public furor criticizing the government.

Producers of soybean cake and curd protested by staging three day strike condemning the government as non competent. (*/DWA)