JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman wrote to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartanto, to propose the implementation of a limited coordination meeting (Rakortas) for controlling the import of wood sweet potatoes (singkong) and their derivative products.
This is done because farmers for these commodities are currently having difficulty selling their crops due to the increase in imported products.
Through a letter number B-191/PI.200/M/05/2025 dated May 14, 2025, Amran said, there is a need for protection for domestic sweet potato commodity farmers.
"To protect farmers and maintain price stability at the producer level, it is necessary to have strategic steps in the form of import control, including the option of determining a limited ban on wood sweet potato commodities and several forms of derivative products," he explained in the letter.
According to him, the control of cassava imports is in line with President Prabowo Subianto's directives to strengthen national food security, optimize local raw materials, and support downstream domestic industries.
Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture encourages the implementation of a coordination meeting led by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy by involving the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Finance.
"If domestic production is adequate, why should it depend on imports? This is a matter of taking sides with farmers and a matter of courage to make strategic decisions for our food sovereignty," said Amran.
This step is expected to be a turning point to arouse cassava farmers' passion, strengthen bargaining positions in the market, and support sustainable and local commodity-based national downstream programs.
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