Encouraging Domestic Production Increase, Head Of Food Agency: Indonesia Must Reduce Rice Imports

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi. (Photo: Doc. National Food Agency)

JAKARTA - The National Food Agency revealed that increasing food production is an important aspect in providing sustainable food security. With this food security, Indonesia can avoid rice imports.

Head of the National Food Agency (NFA) Arief Prasetyo Adi said the rice import policy was a bitter decision that had to be made in order to keep the government's rice stock safe and sufficient.

Furthermore, he said that if you want Indonesia's condition to be fine, then during the rice planting season it must be boosted by 1 million hectares. That way, the harvest can reach 2.5 million hectares.

"So hopefully the harvest in March-April will be successful. So if you want this country to be good, the planting must be above one million hectares, so that the harvest can be above the national rice consumption requirement of 2.5 million tons per month," he said in an official statement, Wednesday, February 21.

According to Arief, Indonesia should import as much as possible. He said now is the time for Indonesia to move its economic activity from Thailand.

"This is the time for us all to move hard economics in Thailand and those in Vietnam to Indonesia. As much as possible we must reduce imports, increase domestic production," he said.

Arief said to boost production, the government decided to increase fertilizer subsidies by Rp. 14 trillion or equivalent to 2.5 million tons of fertilizer.

In addition, Arief said that one of the main keys for increasing food production, including targeting agricultural productivity, utilizing agricultural insurance, preparing 26,000 Fertilizer Outlets, implementing in the field by the Regional Government, providing rewards for Regional Heads, implementing regional persons and agricultural extension movements, to optimizing the role of Field Agricultural Extension (PPL).

Regarding the development of 26,000 Pupuk Outlets, Arief revealed that the use of the digitalization system will provide convenience, so it can be seen how much stock is in each outlet. Meanwhile, in the future, the proportion of commercial fertilizers will be increased compared to subsidized fertilizers, considering that the Exchange Rate of Farmers for Food Crops (NTPP) has improved.

If the price of unhulled rice is good, commercial fertilizer will be further increased in portion. Subsidies can be subsidies in or out subsidies, where will we usually choose. But now efforts are being made that fertilizer is commercial," he explained.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman hopes that this subsidy will encourage increased production as expected.

"Mr. President has given directions that the fertilizer is added to Rp. 14 trillion or around 2.5 million tons, thank God we have conveyed to all regent governors throughout Indonesia, this is good news for our farmers," said Amran.