"We will continue to curb food imports. Indonesia will no longer need to import food products if its natural potential and resources are managed optimally," Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said.Sukabumi, W Java (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian governments efforts to curb food imports have enabled the country to save up to Rp56 trillion, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman has said.
"We will continue to curb food imports. Indonesia will no longer need to import food products if its natural potential and resources are managed optimally. In fact, Indonesia has started exporting food to several countries," he said while visiting a creative economic center here on Tuesday.
Indonesia is now exporting a variety of food commodities, including mung beans, onion, garlic and corn. These are commodities that the country previously imported.
Export of food stuff suggested that Indonesian farmers have been able to produce quality foods, he said.
On Tuesday (October 6), Indonesia also began exporting chicken to Myanmar, he said.
By controlling food imports, Indonesia has been able to save up to Rp56 trillion, while ensuring at the same time that small and large scale farmers can make more profit, he said.
The impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon this year was not as bad as it was in 1998 when the country was forced to import food due to a slump in food production, he said.
The 1998 El Nino prompted the country to import large quantities of rice to meet the needs of its 200 million population, he said.
"Thanks to President Joko Widodos directives to strengthen food stocks, Indonesia did not have to import rice till date despite El Nino-induced droughts which affected most parts of the country," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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