Minister Of Agriculture Amran Hopes Bulog Will Absorb Domestic Farmers' Corn Production Soon

Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman hopes that Perum Bulog will soon absorb domestic corn production which is currently entering the main harvest, especially in a number of centers such as Gorontalo Province, so that prices do not fall.

"Now it's down Rp3,600, sorry for our farmers, do we want to import again? We have stopped imports and don't let imports happen again next. Bulog must move quickly, we really hope Bulog moves, why? If this continues like this when will it be finished, it will be imported," said Amran after reviewing Polohumo Corn Warehouse in Boalemo Regency, Gorontalo, quoted from Antara, Monday, April 22.

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman made a working visit to check the corn warehouse in Polohumo, Dulupi District, Boalemo Regency, Gorontalo Province.

Amran admitted that he was worried that if Bulog did not absorb it, the price of corn at the farmer level would fall. In addition to absorbing, said the Minister of Agriculture, Bulog must also buy at a reasonable or profitable price.

"Do not let farmers lose because the harvest is cheaper than the cost of production costs," he said.

Therefore, the Minister of Agriculture hopes that farmers will continue to be accompanied so that in the future they can produce.

"If this is purchased at a profitable price, I will make sure that there are no more imports. But don't let the farmers when the price falls on their own, so we ask Bulog to absorb it. Please absorb this, the price is already Rp3,600," Amran said in a statement received in Jakarta.

The Minister of Agriculture emphasized that the current government is fully committed to the fate and welfare of farmers. This can be seen from the addition of subsidized fertilizer allocations that have received approval from President Jokowi. This addition is even quite large because it reaches 100 percent.

"Pupuk has doubled, for here (Boalemo Regency) we have added, the President's order and I have signed it. Please convey to all of Indonesia that the fertilizer has been increased by Rp. 28 trillion or has increased twice to Rp. 54 trillion, So the matter of fertilizer is no longer a problem," he said.

Meanwhile, in terms of quality, the Minister of Agriculture saw that the condition of corn from this harvest was quite good and could be distributed throughout Indonesia. Therefore, continued Amran, the appropriate price for farmers there should be above Rp4,200 per kilogram.

"This is very good, very good quality. Therefore, it should be at least Rp4,200 purchased and should not be allowed to be Rp3,600," he said.

Head of the Gorontalo Provincial Agriculture Service Muljady Mario explained that so far corn production in his area has reached 1.7 million per year where the average center has increased. In the final 2023-2022, for example, Gorontalo contributed the highest export figure nationally.

"From the quota of 200 thousand tons, we have 80 thousand tons of exports. So in terms of production, we are very good," said Muljady.

Muljady also expressed his gratitude for the attention of President Joko Widodo and the ranks of the Ministry of Agriculture who continue to support the production of corn. One of them is government support for fertilizers that are currently able to be fulfilled properly.

"Alhamdulillah, we have the ability to allocate with the Minister's struggle. Previously we only got 56 thousand tons, now it reaches 89 thousand tons of urea. Of course, the people of Gorontalo would like to thank the Minister who has fought for this additional quota of fertilizers to increase in Gorontalo," said Muljady.