Coordinating Minister For Food Zulhas Asks For Additional Budget Of IDR 510 Billion To Pursue Food Swasembada

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs (Menko Pangan) Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas). (Photo: ANTARA)

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs (Menko Pangan) Zulkifli Hasan asked for an additional budget of IDR 510 billion to support the achievement of the food self-sufficiency target.

Zulhas as soon as he was called explained that the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs asked for an additional budget of IDR 550 billion to support the food self-sufficiency target.

"Well, I said earlier at the Budget Agency, we had a meeting at the Budget Agency, our budget was only Rp. 40 billion. We need approximately Rp. 550 billion, so it is less than Rp. 510 billion, then later discussed, the Budget Agency asked for 2-3 months for a meeting with the government," Zulhas said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, December 2.

Food self-sufficiency, said Zulkifli, is one of the priority programs of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. This target is expected to be achieved in 2027.

"At that time (the target) was 2029, on another occasion (the target) the President was to advance, because it was possible to see it, we will self-sufficiency in food in 2028. At APEC and at the G20, the President said that we will be self-sufficient in food in 2027," said Zulkifli.

He is optimistic that this target can be achieved for rice, corn and sugar commodities.

"Yes, of course there is a question, can we do it? I can answer, God willing. At least rice and corn, sugar goes," he said.

The DPR RI Budget Agency held a working meeting with seven coordinating ministers from the Red and White Cabinet at the Jakarta Parliament Complex, Monday, to discuss the budget work plan for the 2025 Fiscal Year RAPBN.

Chairman of the DPR RI Budget Agency Said Abdullah said his party would fully support the budget work plan to support the coordination and synchronization work between ministries and institutions so that it can run well soon, especially within 100 working days of the government.

"Especially the free nutritious food program, free health checks, school renovations, and the construction of national, regional and village food barns," Said said when opening the meeting.

The seven coordinating ministers who attended this working meeting included Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan, Coordinating Minister for Human Rights Immigration and Social Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra, and Coordinating Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

Then Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, and Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar.

Said explained that the budget allocated to a number of Coordinating Ministries, namely, the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Security, amounting to Rp268.28 billion, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Rights Immigration and Corrections of Rp9.03 billion, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of Rp456.76 billion, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture of Rp345.5 billion.

Then the Coordinating Ministry for Regional Infrastructure and Development amounted to Rp230 billion, the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment amounted to Rp139.73 billion, and the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs Rp44.09 billion.