Farmer Exchange Rate Strengthens 0.38% in May 2019

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded a 0.38% increase in the Farmer Exchange Rate (NTP) in May 2019 compared to April 2019. In May 2019, the national NTP was recorded at 102.61, while in April 2019 it was 102.23. BPS Head Suhariyanto stated that the NTP strengthened due to a higher increase in the price index of agricultural output compared to the increase in the price index of goods and services consumed by households and for agricultural production purposes. Furthermore, the general increase in NTP occurred because the main harvest season had ended.

The increase in the national NTP was influenced by increases in four agricultural sub-sectors. The first sub-sector was horticulture, at 102.41, or a 1.42% increase compared to April 2019, which was only 100.98. Second, the people's plantation sub-sector increased by 0.43% to 96.02 in May 2019, compared to 95.61 in April 2019. Third, the livestock sub-sector increased by 0.83% in May 2019 to 107.73 from 106.84 in April 2019. The final increase was in the fisheries sub-sector, by 0.37% to 106.61 in May 2019.

Despite increases in four agricultural sub-sectors, one sub-sector decreased: the food crops sub-sector, by 0.55%. This sub-sector was at 104.03 in April 2019 and decreased to 103.46 in May 2019.