Rupiah Drops, Badanas Prepares Strategy To Maintain Domestic Food Prices

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

JAKARTA - Iran's conflict with Israel to the weakening of the rupiah exchange rate against the United States (US) dollar has forced the government to rack its brains in meeting domestic food reserves. Included in keeping prices from rising.

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said he had several strategies as an anticipatory measure to maintain domestic food prices amid the current global geopolitical turmoil.

The solution is that we need government food reserves. The solution is that we need to prepare post-harvest, support what Mr. Amran (Minister of Agriculture) is doing," he said when met at the National Food Agency Office, Jakarta, Thursday, April 18.

Arief also said that his party would prepare government food reserves well. Even so, he said that in fulfilling this food reserve it could not only be the government but also needed to involve the private sector.

"All government food reserves are prepared. We are trying our best. The money is prepared, the source is prepared. Bulog is prepared, private (private business actors) are invited to talk. All collaborations," he said.

Arief said that one of the food reserves that must be prepared is rice. He also compared Indonesia and Vietnam in terms of rice production. He said, Vietnam with the need for 21 million tons has a production of 27 million tons, so there is a difference of 6 million tons.

Indonesia needs 30 to 31 million tons (in a year). The production is close to that. The difference is only 500,000 tons. It's only equivalent for one month less. Half a month," he said.

Arief said, in order for rice production to be as safe as Vietnam, the government through the Ministry of Agriculture has done several things. Such as through intensification and extensification.

"Mr. Amran in Merauke is part of the extensification. Food estate is part of the extensification. While fertilizer is part of the intensification," he explained.

In an effort to boost rice production, according to Arief, the availability of fertilizers must also be in a safe condition. It should not be delayed to the farmers. Including the availability of water also needs to be considered.

"There is fertilizer, there is seeds, no water. Can you do it? You can't. That's why he (Minister of Agriculture) said that one of them was a pump. The pump means it can come from the river. That's why it can't be cut into pieces, it must be integrated," he explained.