Chili And Online Make Inflation Rise, Coordinating Minister Luhut Asks Local Governments To Open Small Agriculture

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Bisar Pandjaitan asked regents and local government officials to make small farms grow chilies and onions. The goal is to overcome the increase in food commodity prices that cause inflation.

"Our inflation began to rise 4.3 percent, because yesterday the price of eggs, chilies, onions and others rose. So I propose to the regent, regional officials to make small farms to plant cayenne pepper, onions," Luhut said at the Coordination Meeting which is a member of the AKPSI, in Jakarta, Thursday 7 July.

Luhut said, the proposal reflects his experience while in the military. In 1993, Luhut once asked his subordinates to develop hydroponic agriculture with a goal so as not to lack food.

"When I was Danrem at Madiun I did that in 1993. All of my Korem was growing hydroponic chilies, onions, vegetables and others. So East Java didn't lack food," he said.

Luhut also said that overcoming the food crisis, it started by growing food commodities with a small amount of land. He said that planting does not require much capital.

On that occasion, Luhut also suggested that oil palm plantations could overlap food crops.

"For example, in the middle of palm oil, I can't overlap my sari, I do it when I'm Danrem," he said.

Furthermore, Luhut also asked that the proposal given not be considered a small job.

"So these small items have a big influence, so if I ask for hydroponic planting, don't say it's work," he said.