"We are very optimistic because, God willing, there will be no drought (next year)," the ministry's Director General of Food Crops, Yudi Sastro, remarked here on Monday.
He also highlighted the government's efforts, including implementing support programs like pumping and optimizing swamp land, to boost domestic food production.
"Therefore, we believe that we can support the free nutritious meal program and ensure food availability," he noted.
According to Sastro, Indonesia has significant food production potential, with 7.3 million hectares of rice fields. The government is working to expand agricultural land in several regions.
Additionally, the ministry is enhancing the intensification program across all existing rice fields, aiming to increase production by 0.2 tons per hectare.
He attributed the slight decrease in rice production in 2023 to the El Nino phenomenon, which impacted rice production in the country.
Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that rice production in Indonesia in 2023 was recorded at 31.10 million tons, derived from 53.98 million tons of dry-milled grain, which is converted into rice for the population's consumption.
Meanwhile, Director of Food and Nutrition Alertness of the National Food Agency Nita Yulianis remarked that to maintain production at the producer level, the agency strives to keep the Farmer Exchange Rate (NTP) stable.
This effort supports the free nutritious meals program and aims for food self-sufficiency.
"If we look at the data from the NTP, since 2022, the farmers' exchange rate has never dropped below 100. (It is) because we have indeed maintained it so that it is not below the basic price. Thus, our farmers still have incentives to produce. That will also support food sufficiency," she remarked.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) data, Indonesia ranked as the world's fourth-largest rice producer during the 2023-2024 period, importing only 1.4 percent of its rice requirements while contributing six percent to the global rice supply.
Translator: Ahmad Muzdaffar Fauzan, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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