Indonesia no longer imports rice: Deputy Minister
Indonesia says it has achieved rice self-sufficiency and halted rice imports through higher agricultural production and expanded planting areas. The government is developing new rice fields, providing farm machinery, and boosting productivity, while continuing efforts to reduce imports of commodities such as beef, milk, garlic, soybeans, and wheat.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono stated that Indonesia has achieved food self-sufficiency and stopped importing rice through increased agricultural production and the expansion of planting areas in various regions.
“We already self-sufficient and no longer importing rice,” Sudaryono said while delivering remarks at a gathering of farmers, fishers, and trainers at the 17th National Farmers and Fishers Week (PENAS) in Gorontalo District, Gorontalo Province, on Tuesday.
According to him, the achievement was made through a simple but consistent strategy, expanding planting areas to increase production and harvest yields.
“The key is to plant more so that we can harvest more,” Sudaryono said.
The government is also continuing to expand its new rice fields development programme in several regions, including Papua, South Kalimantan, and Gorontalo. In Gorontalo, the new rice field area covers around five thousand hectares.
Sudaryono said the programme is being carried out on previously unproductive land while maintaining local communities’ land ownership rights.
In addition, the government is providing support in the form of agricultural machinery and equipment to increase farmers’ productivity.
Indonesia’s agricultural sector, he added, has shown progress as reflected in increased production of several food commodities.
Sudaryono noted Indonesia no longer imports red pepper and eggs. Indonesia has even exported eggs, chicken meat, and fishery products.
Meanwhile, commodities that still rely on imports include beef, milk, garlic, soybeans, and wheat.
“We continue to make efforts to reduce dependence on imports of these commodities by increasing domestic production,” Sudaryono said.
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Source : Antara
