Polemic Of Garlic Imports, Minister Of Agriculture Ready To Check Ombudsman Findings

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman stated that he would follow up on the findings of the Indonesian Ombudsman regarding the issue of recommendation policies for importing horticultural products (RIPH) and mandatory planting on garlic.

Amran admitted that he had also held a leadership meeting (rapim) with his staff to discuss the findings of the Ombudsman.

The decision, he continued, was that the Ministry of Agriculture under the Inspectorate General (Irjen) would send a team to directly check irregularities that were found by the Ombudsman. Including regarding illegal figures (extortion) in recommendations for the import of garlic.

"We immediately called the Inspector General, and his team checked, so immediately checked down. We have to check. We thank the Ombudsman, including the community, if there are irregularities, please tell us we will definitely follow up," he said when met at the Ministry of Agriculture, South Jakarta, Wednesday, January 17.

According to Amran, the Ombudsman's findings must be followed up because this is proof of the attention of many parties in the agricultural sector. If it is proven that there are elements of the Ministry of Agriculture who carry out illegal or extortion, Amran admits that he will take firm action.

"I together with the ranks at the Ministry of Agriculture have committed and worked hard to create good, transparent, and responsible governance. If there are people who dare to commit irregularities, we will take firm action," he said.

Previously, the Indonesian Ombudsman revealed the findings of problems in the policy of issuing and supervising Horticultural Product Import Recommendations (RIPH) as well as the mandatory planting policy issued by the Ministry of Agriculture in 2023.

To the Ombudsman, a number of business actors complained about the obstacles in the RIPH Access System which is often inaccessible during working hours. In addition, the RIPH application process has also been complained about which has exceeded the service time standard as stipulated in the Minister of Agriculture Regulation Number 39 of 2019 concerning RIPH, which is 8 working days.

Regarding mandatory planting as one of the requirements for the issuance of the RIPH, RI Ombudsman Member Yeka Hendra Fatika said that his party received information on the establishment of a new company by old players, rather than carrying out planting obligations.

Because the cost of establishing a new company is cheaper than carrying out mandatory cultivation.

planting is a requirement that must be met before the RIPH is issued. For example, a company is committed to planting 100 hectares with a production target of 200 tons of garlic, so the company is entitled to import approval of 4,000 tons of garlic in a year, Yeka explained in an official statement.

In addition, the Indonesian Ombudsman also found reports of alleged illegal levies in the issuance of RIPH garlic.

Yeka explained, based on information from informants, they admitted that they were asked for a sum of money from an individual from the Ministry of Agriculture ranging from Rp. 200 per kg to Rp. 250 per kg to launch the issuance of RIPH garlic which is being processed.

However, Yeka said that his party would focus on the governance of the issuance of the RIPH and submit this to the Law Enforcement Apparatus (APH) to investigate it.

"There are 210 horticultural importers in 2023, we will check later. After the examination there will be corrective action to the Ministry of Agriculture," he said.