Importers Are Asked To Absorb Local Soybeans To Maintain Domestic Food Ecosystems

Farmers grow soybeans on PT SHS land. Member of ID FOOD/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - Head of the National Food Agency / NFA (National Food Agency), Arief Prasetyo Adi said the importance of absorbing soybeans from local farmers as strengthening the national soybean stock. Therefore, the Food Agency will make an assignment to importers to be obliged to absorb Farmer's soybeans.

According to him, strengthening the stock is an effort to create a domestic food ecosystem and maintain the availability of soybean food, in synergy with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of SOEs, Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade, Food SOEs, BULOG, private sector and associations.

"In Indonesia, the market already exists because the interest in consuming soybeans such as tofu and tempeh is quite high. When soybeans are priced well, even better than abroad, this is our opportunity to plant soybeans. also mandated by President Joko Widodo," he said.

He admitted, the interest of farmers to grow soybeans is still minimal compared to others such as rice and sugar cane because the price of soybeans at the farmer level is low so that it has an impact on the reluctance to plant soybeans.

Previously, Arief continued, ID FOOD food holding through PT Sang Hyang Seri since March 2022 has started soybean cultivation in the agricultural land area owned by PT SHS in Sukamandi, Subang, West Java in collaboration with Gadjah Mada University Academics whose planting was symbolically attended by him directly with The Ministry of SOEs and the Board of Directors of ID FOOD Food Holding, in the context of supporting Food SOEs to maintain the availability of soybean stocks.

"Maintaining soybean prices at the farmer level and absorbing their production is a driving force to increase interest in growing soybeans and strengthen national soybean stocks," he concluded.

Arief said the reference price for soybeans at the farmer level is currently at IDR 8,500 per kilogram, therefore the National Food Agency together with the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders will prepare a new regulation on the reference price for soybeans at the farmer level. According to Arief, this is the role of the National Food Agency to update reference prices following the development of production facilities needed by farmers.

Not only that, Arief continued, his party can also pay attention to the global trade situation and ensure price and market certainty for farmers' products. So, he continued, the state can protect farmers to develop their production and can gradually reduce dependence on soybean imports.

This matter was also discussed with the Gakoptindo Association (Indonesian Tofu and Tempe Producer Cooperative Association), and Gakoptindo is even ready to collaborate in absorbing farmers' soybeans for the purposes of tofu and tempeh craftsmen.

"I discussed directly with friends at Gakoptindo, they said 'sir, we are ready to buy farmers' soybeans up to one million tons per year to make tofu,' they also support if there is a new reference price for soybeans at the farmer level." he said after a discussion at the Gakoptindo Annual Member Meeting (RAT) in Central Java.

"This means that the market already exists, Indonesia has an advantage because its citizens are above 270 million people, so we actually have an extraordinary market to create a domestic food ecosystem," he explained again.

Meanwhile, Director of Public Service Supply Chain of Perum BULOG Mokhamad Suyamto said the government has assigned Perum BULOG to supply soybeans at a price lower than the market price. The price difference is given for tofu and tempeh craftsmen who are members of the target Kopti.

"The target of this program is tofu and tempe producers who are members of the tofu and tempe cooperative established by the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs and this program will be implemented throughout Indonesia," said Suyamto.

The distribution of soybeans by Perum BULOG is carried out in stages which will be distributed in 13 provinces, namely Aceh, Lampung, Bengkulu, DKI Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Jogya, Bali, East Kalimantan, NTB, and South Sulawesi.

"The soybean sources that will be used in this program are ex-imported soybeans which are currently available in importers' warehouses as well as local soybeans produced by domestic farmers," added Suyamto.

By preparing a supply of soybeans at a lower price, tofu and tempeh craftsmen will be able to prepare tofu and tempeh at an affordable price for the community as well as supply certainty to ensure the continuity of tofu and tempeh production.

Perum BULOG is ready to attend to carry out assignments and oversee the stabilization of soybean supply and prices for target craftsmen.