Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono conveyed this during a limited coordination meeting on food in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday, according to a statement released by his office here on Wednesday.
He emphasized that the seed provision initiative, which will focus on regions with low cropping index scores, aims to boost national crop production,
This increase is expected to help support the government's goal of cutting rice imports.
The high-quality seeds are expected to boost the national production of rice and corn by up to 20 percent, he informed.
Sudaryono also urged state-run logistics agency Bulog to buy the unhusked rice produced by local farmers, particularly those residing in the province of Central Java, which ranks among Indonesia's food powerhouses.
"That way, we will be able to stabilize prices during the post-harvest stage, ultimately protecting farmers from potential losses," he explained.
At the same meeting, Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, reiterated that the Indonesian government has resolved to halt the imports of rice, salt, and sugar, as instructed by President Prabowo Subianto.
"We will stop the imports of rice and some other food commodities. Bulog will absorb all unhusked rice and corn produced by our farmers to maintain price stability," he added.
He expressed optimism that the import ban would lead Indonesia to boost food self-sufficiency and elevate the living standards of farmers across the country.
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Translator: Muhammad H, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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