File – Workers unload imported rice from a ship at Malahayati Port in Aceh Besar, Aceh, on June 10, 2024. (ANTARA FOTO/Ampelsa/Spt)

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said that he sees no issue with the recent plan by state-owned logistics company Bulog to secure rice stocks for Indonesia by acquiring rice companies in Cambodia.

“There is no problem with Bulog’s plan,” he said. “What is most important now is to to optimize our potential to stimulate the domestic economy.”

Sulaiman emphasized that the acquisition should be done in conjunction with domestic efforts to maximize domestic food resources. These efforts include creating new rice fields, optimizing existing ones, and enhancing watering systems.

He said that the acquisition should be done in concert with domestic efforts to maximize domestic food resources. These efforts include creating new rice fields, optimizing existing ones, and enhancing watering systems.

“Indonesia once achieved self-sufficiency in rice with zero imports,” he added. “Even with current imports, the figure should not exceed 10 percent.”

Sulaiman highlighted the distribution of water pumps to all provinces as a way to mitigate a potential decline in food reserves due to the expected drought from July to October.

“Distributing water pumps is our short-term solution… It is the most appropriate measure for mitigating the effects of drought and El Nino at this time,” he said.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan earlier confirmed that Bulog will acquire several rice sources from Cambodia to secure domestic rice stocks. He revealed that President Joko Widodo directly ordered this action.

On June 12, Bulog CEO Bayu Krisnamurthi said that his company is ready to follow up on the government’s instruction to explore collaboration potential with other parties, especially with Cambodia, on the economy and food investment.

He added that Bulog has already cooperated with Cambodia through business-to-business and government-to-government schemes in 2023 and early 2024.

Published Date: June 20, 2024