Jokowi: We Have Not Imported Consumed Rice In The Last Three Years

President Jokowi delivers a speech at the Annual Session of the MPR RI and the Joint Session of the DPR RI and DPD RI in 2022, Tuesday, August 16. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) revealed the fact that Indonesia had no longer imported rice for consumption in the last three years.

As is known, for the last three years from 2019 to 2021, Indonesia has also consistently not opened rice imports because national production is sufficient for food needs.

It is recorded that the average national rice production reached 31.3 million tons in 2019-2021.

Jokowi said that this achievement was also supported by development and irrigation which boosted national productivity.

"For consumption rice, we have no longer imported in the last three years. For consumption rice. The construction of dams and irrigation has supported the increase in our national productivity", he said at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session, Joint Session of the House of Representatives-Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia, Tuesday, August 16.

Jokowi said that Indonesia had just received an award from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for Indonesia's success in achieving rice self-sufficiency and its good food security system.

"Alhamdulillah, we have just received an award from the International Rice Research Institute witnessed by FAO because we are considered capable of achieving a system of food security and rice self-sufficiency since 2019", he said.

Previously reported, Jokowi said the national rice stock until April 2022 reached 10.2 million tons. This proves that Indonesia has a good food security system.

“Our stock (rice) in the field was the highest at the end of April 2022, which was 10.2 million tons. If you ask, where is it? in the community, in farmers, in restaurants as well as in Bulog plus several food industries", he said.