Jakarta: Hundreds of Indonesian small farmers protested in the capital on Tuesday Jakarta and in other parts of the world’s fourth most populous country, demands to end the government a bribe Export restrictions which have eroded their income.
IndonesiaThe world’s top palm oil exporter, which has halted shipments of crude palm oil and some of its derivative products from April 28 to control rising prices of domestic cooking oil, has rattled global vegetable oil markets.
Marching with a truck loaded with palm oil, farmers held a rally outside the offices of the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, which is leading the government’s policy.
“Malaysian farmers wearing full smiles, Indonesian farmers suffering,” read one of the signs held by the protesters. Malaysia is the second largest producer of palm oil and has said it aims to supply open markets from Indonesia’s export ban.
In a statement, small farmers’ group APKASINDO said that since the announcement of the export ban, the price of palm fruit has come down by 70% from the minimum price set by the regional authorities.
Meanwhile, APKASINDO estimated that at least 25% of palm oil mills have stopped buying palm fruit from independent farmers.
The group said the protesters also planned to march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Similar protests are taking place in 22 other provinces as well.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo imposed an export ban on palm oil and its derivative products used in the manufacture of cooking oil after a series of policies failed to control the price of basic household food items.
A poll this week showed approval ratings for Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, hit the lowest level since December 2015 due to rising prices. Data released by pollster indicator Politik Indonesia showed that satisfaction with Jokowi fell to 58.1% in May, the lowest since December 2015, when the president’s approval rating fell to 53%.
Chief Economics Minister Airlanga Harterto has said the ban will remain in place until wholesale cooking oil prices across Indonesia fall to Rs 14,000 (0.9563) per litre.
Trade ministry data shows that till Friday, the price of bulk cooking oil stood at an average of Rs 17,300 per litre.
IndonesiaThe world’s top palm oil exporter, which has halted shipments of crude palm oil and some of its derivative products from April 28 to control rising prices of domestic cooking oil, has rattled global vegetable oil markets.
Marching with a truck loaded with palm oil, farmers held a rally outside the offices of the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, which is leading the government’s policy.
“Malaysian farmers wearing full smiles, Indonesian farmers suffering,” read one of the signs held by the protesters. Malaysia is the second largest producer of palm oil and has said it aims to supply open markets from Indonesia’s export ban.
In a statement, small farmers’ group APKASINDO said that since the announcement of the export ban, the price of palm fruit has come down by 70% from the minimum price set by the regional authorities.
Meanwhile, APKASINDO estimated that at least 25% of palm oil mills have stopped buying palm fruit from independent farmers.
The group said the protesters also planned to march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Similar protests are taking place in 22 other provinces as well.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo imposed an export ban on palm oil and its derivative products used in the manufacture of cooking oil after a series of policies failed to control the price of basic household food items.
A poll this week showed approval ratings for Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, hit the lowest level since December 2015 due to rising prices. Data released by pollster indicator Politik Indonesia showed that satisfaction with Jokowi fell to 58.1% in May, the lowest since December 2015, when the president’s approval rating fell to 53%.
Chief Economics Minister Airlanga Harterto has said the ban will remain in place until wholesale cooking oil prices across Indonesia fall to Rs 14,000 (0.9563) per litre.
Trade ministry data shows that till Friday, the price of bulk cooking oil stood at an average of Rs 17,300 per litre.