We have achieved our target to control rice stocks for two years in a row
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed that domestic food production in 2021 sufficed the national food demand, so food imports can be curtailed this year.

The ministry's spokesman Kuntoro Boga Andri informed that the current national rice stocks as of August 2021 reached 7.60 million tons, comprising 1.52 million tons in rice millings, 708 thousand tons in market circulation, and the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) that is holding around 1.16 million tons, and others.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data also showed a positive trend in Indonesia's agriculture exports from January until July 2021, increasing by 8.72 percent (YoY), with a total export value of around US$2.24 billion.

Indonesia's total import value had reached US$15.11 billion as of July 2021, a decline of 12.22 percent as compared to imports in June 2021. Non-oil and natural gas imports, valued at US$13.33 billion, also decreased by 10.67 percent during the same period.

Andri noted that the Agriculture Ministry’s main role was to control national agriculture cultivation and productivity, and the price and supply chain control functions are handled in concert with other ministries or institutions.

The Agriculture Ministry encourages collaboration with relevant institutions to enhance product quality and value, he noted.

"We have achieved our target to control rice stocks for two years in a row. We also successfully maintain stocks for other 11 food commodities for Indonesia's 270-million population," Andri stated.

Andri pointed out that current issues faced by the ministry were related to marketing and logistics infrastructure, taking into account the perishable character of food commodities necessitated during a special handling process.

Collaboration with relevant institutions is also essential to improve existing infrastructure and enhance product distribution and post-harvest technology utilization, he noted.

"Collaboration from other ministries and institutions, as well from regional governments and stakeholders, is necessary to address those issues," Andri affirmed.

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Translator: Aditya Ramadhan, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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