Medan, Indonesia, July, 20 2010
—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Indonesian coffee exporter PT Indo Cafco have launched a training tool on good agricultural practices to help Indonesian coffee farmers increase quality and productivity.
In cooperation with PT Indo Cafco, IFC produced a VCD/DVD, “Good Agricultural Practices and Sustainability in Coffee Production,” that conveys lessons on how to implement good agricultural practices in coffee farming such as seed selection, nursery management, soil fertility management, proper drying and processing techniques, and pest control. Three thousand copies of VCD/DVD will be distributed to heads of Indonesian farmer groups who will share the training material with 30,000 smallholders.
This VCD/DVD provides a good opportunity to present and introduce to farmers the different coffee stakeholders, acting to develop and sustain the coffee supply chains in Indonesia.
Edouard Bault, Manager of PT Indo Cafco, said, “This VCD/DVD is an excellent tool that shows farmers how to implement good practices in coffee production, and it is well adapted for farmers who don’t have the time to immerse themselves in a technical manual when they come back from the field.”
Ernest E. Bethe, IFC Indonesia Program Manager for Agribusiness, said, “Coffee production in Indonesia is dominated by smallholders who face many challenges in meeting the international standard and global demand. This training tool is part of our initiative to establish a farmer training center that will help smallholders increase productivity, obtain international certification, and enter the global market, thus increasing their income.”
The Indonesian coffee industry is facing major challenges to meet potential export market opportunities due to many reasons, including low yields as a result of poor tree husbandry, aged trees, and infestation of Coffee Berry Borer, limited knowledge in using proper farming equipment, and the absence of a transparent and efficient supply chain between farmers and exporters.
PT Indo Cafco is an ECOM Coffee Group company. ECOM, a global leader in the coffee trade, has been IFC’s client since 2006. The company buys Arabica coffee directly from smallholders in Aceh and Sumatra. PT Indo Cafco and IFC share a common interest in assisting Arabica coffee farmers in North Sumatra and Aceh to overcome the problems in coffee production and capture potential markets.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing capital for private enterprise, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing countries during the financial crisis. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
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