Making Fruits More Affordable Key to Boosting Consumption in Asia, Expert Says

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and other Asian countries produce a wide variety of tropical fruits, yet consumption remains relatively low despite abundant agricultural resources and production. Experts believe improving fruit availability, affordability, and public awareness is essential to encourage healthier eating habits and better nutrition across the region.

Speaking on Voice of Indonesia's The Insight program on World Fruit Day broadcast on Wednesday, July 1, Prof. Bustanul Arifin, Ph. D, President of the Asian Society of Agricultural Economists, highlighted Indonesia's challenges. He said increasing fruit consumption requires balanced efforts to strengthen production, improve affordability, and stimulate consumer demand through effective public campaigns.

Although Indonesia is a major fruit producer, Bustanul noted that consumption patterns remain uneven and fall short of an ideal balanced diet. Oranges remain the country's most consumed fruit, while banana consumption continues declining despite Indonesia's strong production capacity.

According to him, one of the biggest obstacles is the relatively high price of fruits, especially for lower-income households across Indonesia. Many families prioritize purchasing staple foods such as rice, fish, and other essentials before considering fresh fruits as regular dietary choices.

To overcome these challenges, Bustanul proposed innovative policies that simultaneously strengthen both fruit production and consumer demand throughout the country. He said governments should provide incentives encouraging farmers to cultivate more fruits while ensuring sufficient market demand for their harvests.

He warned that increasing fruit production alone could backfire if consumption remains weak and farmers struggle to sell their harvests profitably. Instead, he recommended nationwide campaigns promoting fruit consumption as part of a healthy, modern lifestyle using schools, communities, and social media.

Bustanul also emphasized the importance of promoting locally grown fruits because they deliver both health and economic benefits for Indonesian communities. Greater demand for local fruits would improve public nutrition while increasing farmers' incomes and supporting sustainable growth in rural agricultural economies.

Indonesia's rich selection of tropical fruits, including mangosteen, rambutan, durian, and many regional specialties, should become the focus of future promotional efforts. However, Bustanul noted that some premium local fruits are increasingly viewed as luxury products, making them less affordable for ordinary consumers.

He said that governments, academics, civil society, and private businesses must work together to make healthy food choices easier and more attractive. By improving affordability, availability, and public awareness, Indonesia and other Asian countries can boost fruit consumption while strengthening agricultural development.