I have already highlighted FAO's warnings several times on the world food crisis. Hence, matters pertaining to the dry season must be thoroughly calculated
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has prepared three steps as a precautionary measure against the impact of a likely harsher than usual dry season in the subsequent few months on the availability of staple food items.

"I have already highlighted FAO's warnings several times on the world food crisis. Hence, matters pertaining to the dry season must be thoroughly calculated," President Jokowi stated during a limited meeting themed “Anticipating the Impact of Drought on the Availability of Staple Food" from the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday.

The president underlined the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency’s (BMKG's) projection that 30 percent of Indonesia’s regions will experience drier than usual dry season in the next three months.

To this end, President Jokowi highlighted the significance of comprehensively preparing precautionary mitigation measures to ensure food security and price stability.

The president drew attention to the availability of water in several agricultural centers.

"This is the key. Hence, it is important that facilities to store rain water must be prepared from now on, including lakes, reservoirs, retention ponds, and other artificial water storage facilities," he stated.

The second step is prolonging the planting season by utilizing the rainfall still being received.

"We must ensure that farmers continue to plant and produce by implementing health protocols," the president stated.

Hence, agricultural infrastructure facilities, in terms of seeds and fertilizers, must be prepared and the prices should be affordable.

Furthermore, the president highlighted the need to further streamline the economic stimulus for farmers.

The third step is to comprehensively compute the management of stocks of basic necessities.

"The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) must continue to purchase grains from farmers, so that they are able to get better prices," the president stated.
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Reporter: Hanni Sofia, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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