Government Issues Four New Regulations To Accelerate Food Swasembada Targets

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas claims, rice production in February-March this year will increase by 50 percent.

Then, other commodities such as corn also increased.

This optimism arises because the government will issue several very important Presidential Regulations (Perpres). Thus, the acceleration of food self-sufficiency targets can be achieved.

"The president (Prabowo Subianto) has signed the irrigation presidential regulation, the commodity balance is complete, the fertilizer Perpres is complete, the counseling Perpres is complete. Four basic supports so that food self-sufficiency can be completed. So, there is no more reason we can't carry out self-sufficiency as quickly as possible," said Zulhas at Graha Mandiri, Jakarta, Friday, January 31.

Zulhas said that Bulog should not buy unhulled rice lower than what has been determined by the government, which is Rp. 6,500 per kg, while the reference price for buying corn (HAP) is Rp. 5,500.

Zulhas also claimed that Bulog's financial condition was still in a stable condition because it would get additional from the state budget.

"The financial catalog is not a problem, there are Rp23 trillion ready now. It has been agreed Rp16.6 trillion from the Minister of Finance (Sri Mulyani), so there is Rp39 trillion to buy 3 million tons of rice throughout February-April (2025) and the peak of the main harvest," said Zulhas.

"There is no reason that Bulog cannot buy at a cheaper price than what has been determined by the government," he continued.

According to Zulhas, this is a big job for Bulog so he cannot work alone.

He said, the support of all parties is needed, starting from the minister of home affairs, governors, mayors to village heads to supervise and help Bulog absorb at a specified price.

"Because this rice field, right, to the village, we need support, we need to monitor it together. We help together Bulog to absorb the unhulled rice at a predetermined price," said Zulhas.

"If you violate the price, you will (there) be further steps, the price cannot be negotiated," he added.