Call Swasembada To Fill Domestic Food, Head Of Badanas: In 2025 No Need For Rice, Sugar, Salt Imports

JAKARTA - Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said he was optimistic that Indonesia in 2025 would be able to meet domestic food without having to rely on import policies.

"Of course our spirit is self-sufficiency. So the President directs domestic production as much as possible. Therefore, in 2025 we are optimistic that we will not import. There is no import of rice except for special rice (such as basmati rice). There is no import of consumption sugar, then we also do not import salt," said Arief as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, December 19.

Therefore, he encourages the acceleration of food self-sufficiency as a strategic step to ensure the fulfillment of domestic food needs in a sustainable and independent manner.

"This step is important to take to strengthen the independence of the nation as well as implement President Prabowo Subianto's vision as stated in Asta Cita," said Arief.

According to him, currently there are a number of commodities that are adequate for the fulfillment of domestic food. Among them are chicken meat, shallots, eggs, and chilies.

"Those are all efficient, meaning we are not importing. So not all strategic food commodities are imported," he said.

Next, said Arief, Bapanas has also hired Bulog to absorb domestic production. This is in accordance with President Prabowo's orders so that all farmers' crops can be absorbed properly.

"The President's orders for all production must be absorbed so that this good production does not decrease because the products are not absorbed. The others are Government Food Reserves which are regulated based on Presidential Regulation 125 of 2022 in sufficient conditions," explained Arief.

Furthermore, Arief said, the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) was relatively safe at 1.7 million tons.

With this existing stock, the public does not need to worry about the national expansion conditions.

"Mr. President has said that this year our stock is the best compared to previous years. Therefore, in 2025 we will stop importing rice. This is an order from the President, his spirit is self-sufficiency. Really must be able to be independent in food," he said.

Badanas also continues to strive to maintain price stability so that price stability remains stable at both the consumer and producer levels. This balance needs to be done to grow people's purchasing power so that inflation can be controlled.

There must be a balance at the producer and consumer level. So the margin at the farmer level must be enough / good. So, don't let anyone waste chicken, eggs, or chilies because the price falls very much at harvest," said Arief.

"For us, maintaining reasonable prices in producers and consumers is absolute. We must not keep prices downstream but that is below the farmer's HPP," added Arief.