JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) ensures that national food security remains safe even though there is a war in the Middle East, because Indonesia does not depend on imports from the region.
"There is no food that depends on the Middle East, none. What we can't do, like wheat is from Europe and America. We don't have soybeans, it's from Europe and America. So there is no food that depends on the Middle East," said Zulhas after reviewing the prices of basic necessities at Pasar Minggu, Jakarta, Saturday, March 28, reported by ANTARA.
Zulhas emphasized that the public did not need to worry about the impact of the war in the Middle East on food availability. Domestic food stocks and procurement are ensured to be safe and under control, so the public is urged not to make excessive purchases.
He added that the government was also grateful for having implemented a food self-sufficiency policy from the beginning, so that Indonesia is now self-sufficient in the field of food and able to anticipate potential crises early.
"Last year our rice surplus was around 4 million tons, I think this year there will also be 4 million tons. So God willing, if rice this year until next year we have a safe stock. Corn is safe, chicken meat is safe, eggs are safe, we grow our own vegetables," he said.
When reviewing the prices of basic necessities at Pasar Minggu, a trader also complained about the soaring price of plastic. Gemi, a 58-year-old trader, said that the increase in plastic prices began to occur since Lebaran with a spike of around Rp6 thousand per package.
Responding to this, Zulhas agreed that the complaints were not only experienced by traders at Pasar Minggu, but almost all traders faced the same thing.
He said the price of plastic soared because the price of plastic seeds also rose sharply, given that plastic is made from petroleum.
He ensured that his party would discuss this issue in particular and invite relevant parties to explain the causes of the increase in the price of plastic seeds.
"We will invite several parties related to this plastic seed," said Zulhas.
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