The Government Plans To Tighten Singkong-Gandum Imports To Protect Domestic Farmers

JAKARTA - The government plans to tighten the import of cassava and wheat to protect the production of local farmers.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan) Sudaryono said this policy would be implemented through a commodity balance system that ensures a balance between domestic needs and the number of imports allowed.

Sudaryono emphasized that this rule aims to maintain price stability and ensure farmers get a proper market for their harvest.

"Yes, the handling is, right, there is a commodity balance. Then, what domestic needs and import needs are regulated. What is the goal? The goal is to protect domestic production," said Sudaryono after attending a coordination meeting with a number of related ministries in Graha Mandiri, Jakarta, Monday, January 31.

So far, uncontrolled imports are at risk of harming local farmers. This is because imported products can flood the market and reduce domestic agricultural yield prices.

Sudaryono said the government would take steps to regulate the distribution of important commodities such as cassava and wheat so as not to harm farmers.

"Right, if the imports are not regulated, it means that everyone can import, because the need has not been imported so that people are bored and absorbed," he said.

In a ministerial-level coordination meeting, the government has decided that imports of tapoka originating from cassava and wheat will be strictly regulated.

This arrangement will involve the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) and the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) with a more structured monitoring mechanism.

"In the future, in accordance with the previous decision at the coordination meeting (limited coordination meeting) that for Tapoka importation, including wheat, it will also be regulated later. Regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade," he said.

To ensure that imports remain within limits according to national needs, the government will implement a multi-layered recommendation and approval system.

The Ministry of Agriculture will provide recommendations regarding the number of imports needed, while the execution of the import warrant will be carried out by the Ministry of Trade.

"So there is a recommendation from the Ministry of Agriculture, then later the execution of the import order from Trade," he said.

Thus, he said, the government wants to ensure that imports are only carried out if they are really needed and do not interfere with the domestic market.

Furthermore, Sudaryono emphasized. this import regulation policy aims to protect the interests of farmers.

With import restrictions, the government hopes that the selling price of domestic agricultural products will remain stable. Thus, farmers continue to be enthusiastic about producing and can improve their welfare.

"So, really, the state is here to limit or regulate commodities that are important for the people. Especially for farmers, we really take care of it so that domestic production is good, the selling price is good, the farmers are enthusiastic, the people are prosperous," he added.