Jakarta (ANTARA) - In response to his name appearing in speculation surrounding a possible Cabinet reshuffle, Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo has said that he is focusing on discharging his duties.

"I do not know. I just work. I try to work as hard as I can," he told reporters at the State Palace on Tuesday.

Speculation has been rife that the politician from the National Democratic Party will be replaced by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

A number of political observers and volunteer groups supporting President Jokowi have frequently mentioned Limpo's name in the ranks of ministers who will be replaced.

Related news: Widodo appoints two new ministers in minor reshuffle


However, Limpo said that he does not know anything about the reshuffle rumors and is choosing to focus on doing his job as Minister of Agriculture.

He informed that he has never received a special call from President Jokowi to discuss a Cabinet reshuffle.

"I just attended a regular meeting with the President. I was asked to prepare enough rice and this time we would export it," he said.

Based on data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) in 2021, the Agriculture Ministry harvested 10.41 million hectares of rice fields, a decline of 245.47 thousand hectares, or 2.30 percent, compared to 10.66 million hectares a year earlier.

Production of milled dry rice grain (GKG) in 2021 reached 54.42 million tons, a decrease of 233.91 thousand tons, or 0.43 percent, compared to 54.65 million tons in 2020.

Meanwhile, rice production for the population's consumption in 2021 reached 31.3 million tons, a decrease of 140.73 thousand tons, or 0.45 percent, compared to 31.50 million tons in 2020.

However, BPS said that the positive performance of agricultural exports in 2021 continued, with the value of shipments reaching US$4.24 billion, an increase of 2.86 percent compared to US$4.12 billion a year earlier.

According to the BPS report, agricultural exports in April 2021 grew 15.89 percent compared to the same period the previous year.

Related news: President has no immediate plan for Cabinet shake-up: minister








Translator: Gilang Galiartha, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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