Ministry Of Agriculture Calls Domestic Rice Production Surplus, Commission IV: Why Should There Be Imports?

Screenshot of the Chairman of Commission IV DPR-RI Sudin in a meeting with Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo. (Photo: VOI/Mery Handayani)

JAKARTA - Commission IV of the DPR highlighted data from the Ministry of Agriculture regarding rice production which has a surplus of 55.4 million tons in 2022 or managed to exceed the target of 54.56 million tons. Meanwhile, Indonesia continues to open the tap for rice imports.

Chairman of Commission IV of the DPR-RI, Sudin, assessed that the government is still facing classic issues about data in the agricultural sector and shows that the situation is getting worse. One of them, said Sudin, was the reopening of 500,000 tons of rice imports by the end of 2022.

"In plain view, this shows that rice and other food production are not able to meet national needs, so the government is forced to issue policies for imports. The production submitted is not in sync with the conditions in the field," he said in a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Monday, January 16.

If domestic rice production is indeed a surplus, Sudin questioned where the surplus margin ran. The reason is, in this data, it is not explained in more detail regarding the escape of the margin. If there is a surplus, why should there be imports? said Sudin.

For your information, until now Indonesia is still importing rice. The government through the Ministry of Trade has granted a rice import permit of 500.00 tons.

In January 2023, it is estimated that 200,000 tons of rice will enter Indonesia. However, the realization is only 120,000 tons. While the remaining 300,000 tons will enter in stages starting February 2023.

Rice Production of 55.4 Million Tons Throughout 2022

At a meeting with Commission IV of the DPR today, Minister of Agriculture Syarul Yasin Limpo said that rice production throughout 2022 managed to exceed the target pursued by the government. The total is 55.4 million tons, exceeding the Ministry of Agriculture's target in 2022 of 54.56 million tons.

"The production of rice reached 101.61 percent of the target," said Syahrul.

Meanwhile, the progress of the development of rice farming land reached 965.5 thousand hectares (ha) or 100.23 percent of the target of 963.3 thousand ha. Entering 2023, Syahrul targets rice production to reach 54.5 million tons.

According to Syahrul, the production achievement was achieved thanks to the hard work of all ranks and cooperation between the central and regional governments, the DPR, and relevant stakeholders.

Even so, Syahrul acknowledged the many agricultural challenges faced, especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict that caused the world's food and energy crisis.

"However, in the end we can all get through it well," he said.