Jakarta (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman expressed optimism that Indonesia would achieve the food self-sufficiency target in four years during President-elect Prabowo Subianto's term.
Sulaiman stated here on Thursday that rice is the main priority in achieving self-sufficiency after which the next focus will be corn.
According to the minister, rice and corn production must be increased one by one to achieve the food self-sufficiency target.
"The most important aspect is food, especially rice. If we do not have it, this country could face problems," he emphasized.
Food self-sufficiency is one of the missions in the Asta Cita programs of President and Vice President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who will be inaugurated on October 20.
Several work programs that will be implemented to achieve the goal comprise continuing and improving the food production center area or food estate program, especially for rice, corn, cassava, soybeans, and sugarcane commodities.
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The additional food crop harvest area is targeted to reach four million hectares by 2029.
Earlier, an agricultural observer from the Indonesian Economy and Politics Association (AEPI) Khudori stated when contacted on Tuesday (October 15) that the next government must realize directed agriculture to achieve the food self-sufficiency target.
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According to Khudori, the agricultural sector has not been directed, as several farmers still plant commodities based on trends without considering market needs.
As a result, during harvest, the prices of those commodities decrease due to excess supplies.
To address this issue, he assessed that the next government must have thorough planning for the agriculture sector.
