DENPASAR. Community plantations in Bali have exported cocoa to five countries such as the United States, England, Finland, Malaysia, and Australia.

"The farmers in Bali are benefited by the tourists visiting the islands as some of them are also doing business in Bali," I. Dewa Made Buana Duwuran, the head of Bali's Plantation Office, stated here on Monday.

He remarked that besides the five countries, France is also interested in importing cocoa from Bali.

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According to Made Buana, cocoa contributed US$1.7 million in foreign exchange for the period between January and August 2014.

Cocoa is a new trading commodity that is harvested by the Balinese farmers. Before exporting cocoa, Bali had exported coffee and vanilla.

Data obtained from Bali's Industry and Trading Office revealed that the foreign exchange generated by community plantations reached US$1.7 million during the January-August 2014 period.

This amount increased by 96 percent as compared to US$907 thousand reported during the same period last year.

The trading volume of cacao reached 1,059 tons or equal to US$978,375, while coffee 117 tons or US$796,513, and vanilla 69 tons or US$2,415 between January and August 2014.