The head of state made the statement at the Technical Implementation Unit of Crops and Horticulture Agribusiness Development, in Sidoarjo, East Java, Friday.
The movement was launched by Agriculture Minister Suswono before a number of farmers and fishermen as well as members of the Farmers and Fishermen`s Cooperative (Inkoptan).
President Yudhoyono also urged the public to help address the climate anomalies.
Food resilience and sufficiency are needed in line with the increasing population, he said.
Climate anomalies might threaten the food supplies, he said.
Despite the climate anomalies, the government did not want to see it affect the incomes of farmers and fishermen, he said.
He reminded that climate change was real, and its impacts included extreme cold weather in Europe, floods in Australia, and wet drought in Indonesia. Therefore, all parties must help deal with the impact of climate change, he added.
Yudhoyono also called on the people to help achieve food resilience and self-reliance because the average domestic rice demand was quite high.
Each Indonesian needs around 140 kg of rice annually.
The launching of the national program on climate anomaly mitigation was broadcast live in Makassar (South Sulawesi), Samarinda (East Kalimantan), and Medan (North Sumatra) through teleconference.
In Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, climate anomalies have impacted on the quality and quantity of agricultural products, agricultural pest insects, planting season shifts and imperfect pollination.
The president on the occasion was accompanied by among others First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Agriculture Minister Suswono, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minsiter Fadel Muhammad, State Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar and presidential spokesman Julian A Pasha.
(L.G003*U002/Ff001/HAJM/P003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
