Indonesia and coffee (part 1)

Coffee is one of the national strategic plantation commodities. Coffee began to be planted by the Indonesian people in the early 17th century when the VOC distributed Arabica coffee seeds in Indonesian regions such as Batavia, Cirebon, West Java, and several coastal areas on the island of Java to rival the Middle Eastern countries which at that time controlled the international coffee market.

At the end of the 18th century, Indonesian coffee plantations were attacked by an epidemic of HV (Hemileia Vastatrix) which almost destroyed most of the Arabica coffee plantations. To deal with this, Robusta varieties were introduced in the early 19th century. Robusta coffee varieties have the advantage of resistance to HV disease. In addition, robusta is also more suitable to be planted in the lowlands with a higher level of productivity. Coffee cultivation in the lowlands is also a plus because of closer access to the coast, making it easier for logistic routes which at that time relied on ports.

Since it was first introduced in Indonesia, coffee has been one of the prima donnas of plantation products traded on the international market. The development of coffee in Indonesia is increasingly widespread and becomes an economic attraction for the Indonesian agricultural community.
According to the type of coffee cultivated, the majority of coffee farmers in Indonesia grow Robusta coffee. But over time, the area of ​​Robusta coffee in Indonesia has decreased, while the area of ​​Arabica coffee continues to increase. This shows that the coffee market for arabica types continues to increase, and is responded by farmers through the transition of types of coffee

Source: Book "Portrait of the future of Indonesian plantations 100 years of independence" - Directorate General of Plantations

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