According to the minister, the government is currently targeting to achieve food self-sufficiency as soon as possible, in line with President Prabowo Subianto's Asta Cita visions.
"If (we achieve) self-sufficiency, we will not need to import anymore," Sulaiman said here on Tuesday.
He informed that production in 2025 is expected to show an annual increase of one million tons compared to 2024. So, he assured, it would be sufficient to meet domestic needs.
As for the quantum of increase in production, which is considered small, Minister Sulaiman said that if converted into rupiah, the value of one million tons of rice is Rp12 trillion.
"An increase of 1 million tons is a lot; the value of one million tons is Rp12 trillion," he pointed out.
Meanwhile, referring to Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data, the rice harvest area in 2024 is estimated at 10.05 million hectares, a decline of 167.25 thousand hectares, or 1.64 percent, compared to 10.21 million hectares in 2023.
Meanwhile, rice production this year is estimated to reach 52.66 million tons of dry milled grain, a decrease of 1.32 million tons, or 2.45 percent, compared to 53.98 million tons the previous year.
Meanwhile, rice production in 2024 for population food consumption is estimated at around 30.34 million tons, down 757.13 thousand tons, or 2.43 percent, compared to 31.10 million tons in 2023.
US$1 = Rp15,909
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Translator: Ahmad Muzdaffar Fauzan, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
