Minister Zulhas Regarding Additional Budget Of IDR 505 Billion: I Don't Have An Office Yet

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

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs (Menko Pangan) Zulkifli Hasan opened his voice about the additional budget request of Rp505 billion.

He said that the addition of this budget was motivated by the ministry not yet having its own office.

"I don't have an office yet, I'm still riding, but we're already working full, the office is prepared maybe in January, all new, new employees, new offices, but that doesn't stop us from working," he said when met in Jakarta, Tuesday, December 3.

The man who is familiarly called Zulhas emphasized that the budget will be used to pursue food self-sufficiency targets. Given, the self-sufficiency target was accelerated to 2027.

"Of course the budget is for personal use, for work, towards self-sufficiency in food targeted by the President in 2027," he explained.

Previously, it was reported that the 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," said Zulhas.

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.