"We must be able to feed all Indonesian people with no more imports. I thank the ministers who have reported to me that in 2025, we will no longer need to import rice, corn, and salt," he said at a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He noted that national food self-sufficiency could be achieved earlier than the initial deadline of four years.
"The target that I gave to the Cabinet was that Indonesia must be self-sufficient in food within four years. Thank God, we can achieve that target by the end of 2025, no later than 2026. So, maybe three years faster than the target we set," he said.
He further emphasized that this achievement is the result of hard work and strategic policies, which seek to ensure that the food needs of the Indonesian people can be met without relying on imports.
The President also highlighted the importance of technological breakthroughs, investment in human resources, and measurable productivity increases to maintain national food and energy security.
According to him, Indonesia should not depend on sources from abroad, especially during a global crisis.
"During a crisis, no country will allow food to leave its country. This is the law of history," he said.
The President reminded that food and energy self-sufficiency are not only a priority, but also a foundation for creating jobs, saving foreign exchange, building and national independence in the future.
Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan underscored that Indonesia's policy of ceasing imports of four food commodities would not impact domestic food stocks and prices.
The four commodities affected by the import ban are rice, table salt, table sugar, and corn for livestock feed.
Hasan affirmed that currently, the processes and stocks for most food commodities are safe and stable.
He said that the government rice reserves (CBP) in the warehouses of state-run logistics company Bulog are currently safe at two million tons.
The stocks of broiler chicken meat, broiler chicken eggs, and curly red chilies are also safe.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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