Minister Of Agriculture 'Installs Body' For Cassava Farmers: Stop Imports, Prioritize Local Products!

The photo archive - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman answered questions from the media crew when met at the Jakarta Ministry of Agriculture Office. ANTARA/Harianto

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman proposed controlling the import of cassava and its derivative products. This proposal aims to protect local farmers while at the same time encouraging increased domestic production that is competitive and sustainable.

This step was conveyed by the Minister of Agriculture through an official letter to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, which contained a request for a Limited Coordination Meeting (Rakortas) to be held regarding controlling the import of wood sweet potatoes and their processed products.

"This application letter is a form of the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture in protecting cassava farmers who have difficulty selling their crops due to the entry of imported products," Amran said in his statement in Jakarta, Antara, Sunday, May 18.

In letter number B-191 / PI.200 / M / 05/2025 dated May 14, 2025, the Minister of Agriculture highlighted the importance of protecting wood sweet potato farmers amid increasing pressure from imported products.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows an increase in the volume of imported sweet potatoes from 2023 to 2024. This condition is considered to disrupt the stability of the domestic market and threatens the sustainability of farming businesses, including derivative products such as tapoka flour.

"To protect farmers and maintain price stability at the producer level, strategic steps are needed in the form of import control, including the possibility of setting a limited ban on wood sweet potatoes and their derivative products," said the Minister of Agriculture.

According to him, this step is a tangible form of the government's alignment with farmers. This is because the low selling price of cassava and the difficulty of absorption by industry make many farmers bear losses.

Without control, continued the Minister of Agriculture, this condition has the potential to weaken the spirit of production and expand losses at the main centers of national cassava.

Amran added that import control is also in line with the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia in strengthening national food security, optimizing local raw materials, and supporting industrial downstreaming.

He encouraged the Coordination Meeting to be carried out immediately under the coordination of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy by involving related ministries and institutions, such as the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Finance.

"If domestic production is sufficient, why should it depend on imports? This is a matter of taking sides with farmers and courage in making strategic decisions for food sovereignty," said Amran.

This step is expected to be a turning point in reviving the spirit of cassava farmers, strengthening the bargaining position in the market, and supporting a sustainable national downstream agenda based on local commodities.