This PKS Faction DPR Member Asks The Government To Stop Rice Imports: I Have High Hopes For The Ministry Of Agriculture

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives Andi Akmal Pasluddin hopes that the government is committed not to import rice, in line with the availability of domestic rice stocks, which the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) calls sufficient to meet national food needs.

"I have high hopes for the Ministry of Agriculture in particular, although the budget has been reduced by more than half compared to 2015, but the strategic position of this sector is the hope of this nation in line with the ability of our country which has great potential as a food producer for all Indonesian people," he said. Akmal in a press release, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, October 13.

Ministry of Agriculture data shows that food security in Indonesia has increased during the pandemic, so that rice exports will increase by 15.4 percent in 2020, and is expected to continue in 2021.

Akmal reminded the government to be committed not to import rice for up to two years, because the government itself claims that food availability is sufficient and solid to meet the people's needs.

Akmal said that the government needs to evaluate that in 2021 there will still be rice imports going on, although it is not carried out by Perum Bulog.

In fact, said Akmal, Indonesia has imported 41.6 thousand tons of rice with a value of 18.5 million US dollars or equivalent to Rp. 266.4 billion. When compared with June 2021, the realization of the import value in July decreased by 38.6 percent, where the value of rice imports in June 2021 reached 30.12 million US dollars.

Most rice imports in July 2021 were imported from India with a volume of 29.52 thousand tons worth 12.2 million US dollars. Followed by Vietnam at 8,850 tons with a value of 4.4 million US dollars.

Besides India and Vietnam, Indonesia also imports 2,150 tons of rice from Thailand with a value of US$1.4 million. Also Pakistan is 1,000 tons with a value of 390,000 US dollars.

Akmal appreciated Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo's perspective that agriculture is not just food. However, agriculture is a job, basic economy and nutrition related to growth and development, health, stunting, and others.

"Sometimes this food, especially rice, is not only a commodity that is fought for for the nation's ideals, but also becomes a political tool which ultimately results in differences of opinion between the government itself from the technical ministries and non-technical ministries. In the end, import policies and the people become victims. I hope, don't something else happened, and we continue to assist the government in monitoring, so that the commitment for the next two years and beyond, there will be no more regular non-premium rice imports to fill stock reserves that should be full," Akmal said.