Deputy Minister Prepares 90 Thousand Tons Of Superior Seeds To Acquire Agricultural Productivity

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan) Sudaryono stated that his party has prepared 90 thousand tons of superior rice and corn seeds to spur an increase in agricultural productivity in 2025.

"The Ministry of Agriculture has prepared 90 thousand tons of superior rice and corn seeds to cover 3.7 million hectares by 2025," said Sudaryono as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 1.

He conveyed that this step was taken to increase national food productivity and support the government's program to reduce rice imports.

Deputy Minister Sudaryono stated that the provision of superior seeds will be focused on areas with a low planting index (IP).

According to him, it aims to increase yields and support food security throughout Indonesia.

"By 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture has budgeted more than 3 million hectares for rice seeds, while the rest will be prepared for corn seeds," he said.

Sudaryono emphasized this at the Limited Coordination Meeting (Rakortas) for Food Sector in Semarang, Central Java, Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

He also added that the provision of superior seeds could increase rice productivity by 15 to 20 percent.

In fact, the Ministry of Agriculture focuses on distributing quality seeds to farmers throughout Indonesia.

In addition, the Deputy Minister also encouraged Perum Bulog to absorb farmers' crops, especially in Central Java Province, which is one of the national food barns.

According to him, the absorption of harvest is very important to maintain the stability of food prices and protect farmers from post-harvest price fluctuations.

Bulog harus memastikan serapan gabah petani, terutama di Jawa Tengah, sehingga harga pascapanen dapat tetap stabil. Ini adalah langkah penting agar petani tidak merugikan, tambahnya.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) revealed that by 2025 Indonesia will not import a number of foodstuffs, including rice, salt, and sugar.

According to Zulhas, the absorption of rice from farmers will be fully accommodated by Bulog, according to the President's instructions.

"We will stop importing rice and other foodstuffs. Bulog will absorb all grain and corn produced by farmers to maintain price stability," said Zulkifli.

With this step, the government is optimistic that it can increase Indonesia's food security, reduce dependence on imports, and support the welfare of farmers throughout the country.