First Meeting As Head Of Badanas, Amran Asks For Strictly Supervised Strategic Food Prices

Head of Badanas Amran Sulaiman (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - 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 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.

Amran said the government is obliged to protect farmers through the implementation of Government Purchase Prices (HPP) so that they do not lose money, while ensuring that consumers are protected by the Highest Retail Price (HET).

Furthermore, Amran said this step is something that the state absolutely does, especially for rice commodities that receive government subsidies. Therefore, all subsidized rice and food commodities must be intervened and closely monitored.

"Because we have to protect farmers with HPPs, take care of consumers with HET. Absolute. All rice subsidized by the government must be intervened, supervised," he said.

Amran believes it will be easy to work with the team in the National Food Agency. According to him, most of the personnel are not new people, but old colleagues who already understand how his leadership works and rhythms.

"They are not a new team, I have always been all together. He already understands how we work. So God willing, we are sure that in the future it will be better," he explained.