President Prabowo Subianto Reinforces Commitment to Food Self-Sufficiency, Farmer Welfare

President Prabowo Subianto at the teleconference at Ministry of Agriculture Office, South Jakarta, Monday (02/03). (Photo by: BPMI)

President Prabowo Subianto Monday (02/03) has once again reinforced the Government’s commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency.

“Food issue is a matter of sovereignty, independence, and our survival as a nation. We must secure food supply if we want to become a developed country,” the President said in a teleconference with farmers, agricultural extension workers, heads of agricultural provincial offices, and the Paddy and Rice Milling Entrepreneurs Association at the office of Ministry of Agriculture in South Jakarta.

According to the President, the Government is set to determine the price of unhulled rice at Rp6,500/kg.

“Our farmers are food producers. Their lives and welfare must improve. Therefore, the Government has set the price of unhulled rice purchased from farmers at Rp6,500 and I’m ready to issue the regulation,” he added.

The President also pointed out that although the supply and demand of the market still apply, no one should make excessive profit, adding that entrepreneurs can gain reasonable profits since the welfare of farmers remains the top priority.

“If other countries can do that, then Indonesia can do that too. If anyone refuses to do so, maybe you can close your business and don’t build a rice mill. The state will take care of that,” he continued.

In the meantime, Chairperson of the Paddy and Rice Milling Entrepreneurs Association Sutarto Alimoeso reported that regions such as Aceh, West Nusa Tenggara, Lampung, and Java Island have started supplying rice to state logistic agency Bulog at prices in accordance with the Government’s price.

He added that in some cases, the purchase price at the mill was even higher than Rp6,500 per kilogram.

In response, President Prabowo Subianto stated the importance of strict supervision in the regions and ordered the Indonesian National Defense Force, the Indonesian National Police, and agricultural provincial offices to ensure the price remains stable and avoid market speculation detrimental to farmers so that the Government’s policies will produce positive results in the near future.

“We are not saying we are self-sufficient already. What matters are that the production is sufficient, and the processing will also be good,” he remarked. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/DNS) (GWH/EP)