Rusman said after meeting with President Yudhoyono and vice president Boediono at the former`s private residence in Cikeas, Bogor, he had been assigned to assist the agriculture minister to formulate and continue the short- and long-term plans in the agriculture sector.
"Today I met with the President and was given a new task of a deputy minister of agriculture," he said.
President Yudhoyono in his directives has asked him to together with the minister of agriculture to achieve rice self-sufficiency and a rice surplus of 10 million tons in 2014.
"Rice self-sufficiency is important in the framework of food resilience to make 240 million population in Indonesia live with a peace of mind as rice and other food production is sufficient for them," he said.
Regarding his replacement as BPS chief, Rusman said he had asked the President to choose a candidate from within BPS.
"We are not anti-outsiders but it is because the culture in BPS has been built well," he said.
He admitted however that he did not give names of the candidates. He said there might be a transitional period for a week and appointing of acting chief.
(SYS/H-YH)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
