"Two years is sufficient time to reach the target of 10 million tonnes of surplus rice."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Ministry of Agriculture is aiming at a 6 percent increase in food production per year for the next two years in order to reach its target of 10 million tonnes of surplus rice by 2014.
Agriculture Minister Suswono said here on Tuesday that the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had set itself a target of achieving self-sufficiency in five food commodities by 2014, namely rice, corn, soybean, sugar, and beef.
"Two years is sufficient time to reach the target of 10 million tonnes of surplus rice. Therefore, in the coming two years, the government should pursue a 6 percent increase in food production per year," the minister said in his speech to open the Food Security Council (DKP) Conference, held from July 16-18, 2012.
Held biennially, the DKP conference this year is themed, "Acceleration of the Attainment of Self-Sufficiency in Five Food Staple Commodities".
Suswono noted that in order to attain sustainable food self-sufficiency by 2014, the farmers must produce 75.70 million tonnes of rice, 29 million tonnes of corn, 2.7 million tonnes of soybean, 4.81 million tonnes of sugar, and 0.55 million tonnes of beef.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
