TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ministry of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the government is targeting rice production optimization in a race to food self-sufficiency by 2026.

"This target must be supported by a good [government's] performance and sustainable agriculture programs," he said on Monday, November 6, 2023, while inaugurating a National Agricultural Extension Jamboree in Sigi, Central Sulawesi.

Amran is optimistic about reaching the target since Indonesia already has a history of food self-sufficiency in the past. He highlighted Indonesia's agricultural goal to become a global food estate in 2024-2033. To realize that goal, he said, the government must maximize land potential, optimize agricultural tools and machinery, prepare high-quality seeds and irrigation, and facilitate agricultural production.

He also explained that in 2017, Indonesia managed to not import medium rice. Additionally, Indonesia managed to be food self-sufficient in 2019-2020. "This could all be contributed to the performance of Indonesian farmers and the field agricultural extension (PPL) workers," he said.

This year, rice production is estimated around 30.90 million tonnes, a decrease of 2.45 percent compared to last year, according to Statistics Indonesia.

During his speech, Amran invited PPL to support domestic farmers to increase rice production in 2024 as part of the effort to strengthen national food resilience. "PPL spearheads the support for farmers to increase their production and productivity of agriculture. This duty must be done optimally to reach food self-sufficiency [in Indonesia]," Amran concluded.

ANTARA

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo in Google News