Minister Of Agriculture Amran: Safe Food Stock Ahead Of Eid Al-Adha

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

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman ensured that food stocks were safe ahead of Eid al-Adha 1445 Hijri on June 17, 2024.

The Minister of Agriculture conveyed his certainty after facing President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, June 11, to report the current national food conditions, including ahead of Eid al-Adha 2024.

"We talked about food, focus on food but the stock is safe," said the Minister of Agriculture, quoted from Antara.

In his meeting with the President, the Minister of Agriculture explained about the uncertain climate conditions in the country that could affect food security.

"Now El Nino's climate position is still ongoing, hopefully July, August, El Nino will be finished. Then El Nino has not ended but the dry season has entered," said the Minister of Agriculture.

"He asked, how is the dry season? 'Sir, the peak of the dry season will be August, September, October. Then November usually has rain. These three months are very critical," he continued.

For this reason, he also told the President that the solution to spur agricultural production when uncertain conditions are to carry out pumping.

"Then we asked what the solution was. We have carried out the solution since March. The quick solution to deal with El Nino's condition and this drought is pumping. We report this pumping, 'Sir, we have refocused the budget to buy pumps'," said the Minister of Agriculture.

Previously, the Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi also ensured that the national food stock was in a safe and controlled condition ahead of Eid al-Adha 2024.

"Based on the projected balance sheet for food that calculates food availability and needs, in general, the national strategic staple food stock, we ensure it is safe and sufficient, especially anticipating the momentum of Eid al-Adha which will soon arrive," said Arief in a statement in Jakarta, Tuesday.

Arief said that he had conveyed this in the RDP with Commission IV of the DPR-RI on Monday, June 10 in Senayan, Jakarta.

"There is El Nino, La Nina or whatever, the National Food Agency must ensure that food stocks are in a safe and sufficient condition," said Arief.