"One of the things that the president is concerned about, apart from finance and energy, is food. Thus, once a week, we have to update the latest conditions," he remarked at the Forum Merdeka Barat 9 discussion followed online here on Monday.
Adi noted that for rice, Bapanas had tasked the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) with absorbing 2.4 million tons of the commodity, an increase from only 990 thousand tons last year.
"Domestic production becomes a priority, so we have to maintain the prices at the farmers' level to be good, and in the downstream, the inflation must be secured well because it will affect the community's purchasing power," he remarked.
He remarked that in October, November, and December of 2023, the government will provide rice assistance to 21,353 million beneficiary families, with 10 kilograms of rice for each beneficiary family.
He explained that the provision of rice assistance is a continuation of the earlier food assistance program to 21,353 million beneficiary families, in which a total of 640 thousand tons of rice were distributed.
The Bapanas head affirmed that for other products, such as beef, mitigation effort has been made, namely by expanding the shelf life by using refrigerated storage.
"We will ensure the need of around 700 thousand tons (of beef) is secured well," he remarked.
Adi stated that the government also continues to maintain the availability of horticulture products despite having to import, for instance, garlic.
On that occasion, he emphasized that all regional heads should also be responsible for the availability of food in their respective regions.
"Of course, the central government will help encourage activities. The cheap food movement is conducted every time, and moving stocks from surplus to deficit regions is carried out every day. Thus, those activities should not stop," he remarked.
Related news: Smart agriculture to solve El Niño food security challenges
Related news: Jakarta's food stock safe to face El Nino: Govt
Related news: El Nino: Indonesia prepares US$533 mln to anticipate food shortages
Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
