The Indonesian Trade Ministry has raised import quotas by 130.8% in the first half of this year for 17 horticultural goods, the Jakarta Post reported.

Director-general for foreign trade Bachrul Chairi told the publication the amount allowed for the products - including grapes, mangoes, oranges, bananas and apples - would be 600,000 metric tons (MT) for the period.

The story reported this level was still significantly lower than the 1.1 million MT of fruit and vegetables requested by importers.

"We will be strict with importers. They must realize at least 80 percent of their approved import volumes, otherwise we will revoke their permits," Chairi was quoted as saying.

"He said the ministry would allow importers to lower the import volume they earlier proposed until early January."

National Horticulture Council secretary-general Gun Soetopo slammed the decision, claiming it would hurt domestic growers, the story reported.

"The trend [of importing raw foods] will continue in the coming years with the country importing higher volumes of horticulture products unless the domestic supply problem is addressed," Soetopo was quoted as saying.

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