Minister Of Agriculture Amran Denies National Food Agency Will Be Merged Again To The Ministry Of Agriculture

Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman emphasized that there are no plans to merge the National Food Agency (Bapanas) into the Ministry of Agriculture again.

Even though he is now also the Head of Badanas, Amran ensures that the two institutions continue to run according to their respective duties and functions.

For your information, previously the National Food Agency was indeed under the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) through an institution called the Food Security Agency (BKP).

Then in 2021, the government will form the National Food Agency (Bapanas) based on Presidential Decree Number 66 of 2021.

The duties and functions of the BKP were then transferred to Badanas, which is directly under the President.

"Two. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food Agency (accompanied)," said Amran, at the Bapanas Office, Jakarta, Monday, October 13.

Amran said, his main focus at this time is to stabilize prices at the consumer and farmer levels. Especially for food subsidized by the government.

"Every day we ask to be monitored continuously, supervised, especially food subsidized by the government," he said.

Previously, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman held his inaugural meeting as Head of the Food Agency (Bapanas). During the meeting, Amran asked his staff to carry out strict supervision of strategic food prices.

After receiving a new position, Amran was seen leaving the Badanas office. But 30 minutes later, Amran returned to visit his new office to hold a meeting with all Bapanas employees.

The inaugural meeting, finished after receiving the (certificate) meeting, immediately. We tried to get to know all the teams down. Then what problems must be followed up as quickly as possible," he said after the meeting, at the Bapanas Office, Jakarta, Monday, October 13.

One is the price of strategic food. This must be monitored in real time. Every day we ask to be monitored continuously," he continued.

Amran mengungkapkan, pemerintah menggelontorkan dana sebanyak Rp150 triliun untuk subsidi pangan strategis.

Subsidi ini terbagi menjadi beberapa jenis, tidak hanya subsidi langsung tetapi juga melalui bantuan lain seperti pupuk hingga irigasi.

“Terus diawasi, khususnya pangan yang disubsidi pemerintah Rp150 triliun, subsidi pemerintah. Itu kita wajib intervensi,” tuturnya.

Amran revealed that the government disbursed Rp150 trillion in funds for strategic food subsidies.

This subsidy is divided into several types, not only direct subsidies but also through other assistance such as fertilizers to irrigation.

"Continue to be monitored, especially food subsidized by the government of IDR 150 trillion, subsidies to the government. We must intervene," he said.