"Yes (self-sufficiency), like before, in two to three years, maximum three years," he affirmed here on Friday.
The Indonesian government has tasked the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) with importing rice in 2022 and again in 2023.
According to the minister, Indonesia previously achieved rice self-sufficiency in 2017, or during his previous tenure as agriculture minister. Sulaiman was appointed as the agriculture minister again on October 25, 2023, in place of Syahrul Yasin Limpo.
Even in 2017, he informed, there were no imports of medium-quality rice at all.
Sulaiman said that based on his experience, Indonesia will hopefully be able to achieve self-sufficiency again.
Considering that his current tenure as agriculture minister is less than one year, he informed that his ministry will make efforts to lay the policy foundation first, and the policy is expected to continue for several years.
"One year, (we) lay the foundation. Hopefully, the one who continues it is (employees at the Ministry of Agriculture)... The only thing that changes is the minister," he added.
He expressed optimism that, with self-sufficiency, Indonesia would be able to realize its goal of becoming the world's food estate by 2045.
This would also be supported by Indonesia's human resources in the field of agriculture, who are deemed to have unquestionable capabilities, he said.
The minister underlined that if Indonesia wants to achieve self-sufficiency again, it is important to provide farmers ample space to reap decent profits from their production.
"Anyone who is provided a space to make a profit will be productive. But if (they) experience losses, they will be sad and discouraged from producing. That is logical," he said.
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Translator: Rizka Khaerunnisa, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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