Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has called for national unity to bolster food security, expressing an ambition for Indonesia to achieve global food superpower status. The minister made these remarks on Sunday during a visit to a Bulog warehouse in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Minister Sulaiman emphasized the goal of securing the nation’s future, envisioning Indonesia as a leading global power in the near term. He highlighted the country’s current robust security in water, food, energy, and protein resources.
According to the minister, Indonesia possesses significant potential to ascend as a global power under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership, which is focused on achieving self-sufficiency and resilience across critical sectors, including food and energy.
However, Minister Sulaiman cautioned against potential opposition to the nation’s self-sufficiency drive. He referred to certain “mafia” practices, suggesting these parties might be influenced by foreign interests that benefit when Indonesia faces challenges, particularly in its pursuit of sustainable food independence.
Despite these potential obstacles, the minister assured that substantial progress is evident. He noted that food availability is secure, protein requirements are being met, and the energy sector shows positive trends with a reduction in national import dependency.
Minister Sulaiman also pointed to an increase in exports and stated that farmer welfare has reached its highest level since Indonesia’s independence, considering this a key indicator of success in agricultural development.
Nationally, current rice reserves stand at 4.5 million tons. This volume is projected to increase to 5 million tons within the next 20 days and reach 6 million tons in the coming two months. The minister highlighted that this represents a significant increase, approximately 200 percent, compared to reserves of around 1.5 million tons in previous years during the same period.
Source: Original
