Minister Of Agriculture Amran Grateful For Safe Relative Food Prices During Ramadan

Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman (Photo: dock. Public Relations)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman ensured that the national rice stock was in a safe condition ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1446 Hijri. He conveyed this after holding a coordination meeting with the ranks of BUMN, TNI, and Polri.

Currently, rice stocks at the Public Logistics Affairs Agency (Perum Bulog) reached 2.2 million tons and according to him that is the highest amount in the last seven years.

"Alhamdulillah, today we held a coordination meeting with various parties to ensure the achievement of food self-sufficiency. We are grateful, the prices in the holy month of Ramadan are relatively stable and rice stocks in Bulog currently reach 2.2 million tons, the highest in the last seven years. Rice production also recorded the highest record, "he said as quoted from a written statement, Monday, March 24.

Based on projections, rice production in January-April 2025, is estimated at 24.22 million tons of milled dry unhulled rice (GKG), the highest for the same period over the last seven years.

Similar to the absorption of grain, the increase is significant. If in January-March 2024, Bulog was only able to absorb 35,000 tons of unhulled rice, in the first three months of this year the absorption figure is projected to reach 700,000 tons.

Last year, the total absorption for a year was only about 1 million tons, while this year the government is targeting 3 million tons of unhulled rice to be absorbed in April or May. Even if the realization of the absorption of unhulled rice can reach more than 2 million tons in that period, the national rice stock in Bulog will be very sufficient.

"This is an exponential leap. This is the hard work of all of us, according to the direction of the president, and I thank all levels of the Ministry of Agriculture, TNI, Polri, and all those who have contributed," said Amran.

The government, continued Amran, will also anticipate the impact of this year's dry season by intensifying the pumping program. This policy has proven successful in increasing rice production by more than 2 million tons in the August-December 2024 period.

With the same strategy, it is hoped that rice production will be maintained this year, so that the availability of national rice will be stronger. We continue to strive to ensure that production remains optimal, and hopefully with prayer and hard work together, we can really realize food self-sufficiency," he said.

Amran said President Prabowo Subianto had given directions to ensure various agricultural programs such as printing new rice fields and increasing productivity through land optimization (Oplah) went well to support food self-sufficiency.