ID :
16881
Sun, 08/24/2008 - 23:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/16881
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RI GOVT CALLED ON NOT TO IMPORT RICE
Yogyakarta, Aug 24 (ANTARA) - The importation of agricultural products, rice in particular, should be stopped as it will disturb the national food production, an agricultural observer of the University of Gajah Mada said here over the weekend.
Prof Dr Mochamad Maqksum said that the importation concept or global-based cheap food movement should be halted and be replaced with efforts to increase the domestic production.
He said that the import policy would cause the country to depend on other nations which in the end would also disturb its efforts to increase its food production as an agrarian nation.
"Therefore, the management and cultivation of the country's agricultural resources should be aimed at developing food production at home to avoid dependence on imports," he said.
The agricultural development should be aimed at improving the welfare of farmers and the government should therefore revitalize this sector, he added.
"This concept will give substance to the country's defense for farmers who so far have been neglected," he added.
The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) has reported the country's rice production in 2008 is estimated at 59.88 million tons of dry unhusked rice or equivalent to about 34 million tons of rice.
With a population of 227.78 million, the national rice production level would surpass national need estimated at 31.68 million tons a year.
Last year, Indonesia's dry unhusked rice output rose by 4.98 percent or 2.70 million tons from 2006, enabling the country to enjoy a surplus of 1.5 million tons.
Prof Dr Mochamad Maqksum said that the importation concept or global-based cheap food movement should be halted and be replaced with efforts to increase the domestic production.
He said that the import policy would cause the country to depend on other nations which in the end would also disturb its efforts to increase its food production as an agrarian nation.
"Therefore, the management and cultivation of the country's agricultural resources should be aimed at developing food production at home to avoid dependence on imports," he said.
The agricultural development should be aimed at improving the welfare of farmers and the government should therefore revitalize this sector, he added.
"This concept will give substance to the country's defense for farmers who so far have been neglected," he added.
The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) has reported the country's rice production in 2008 is estimated at 59.88 million tons of dry unhusked rice or equivalent to about 34 million tons of rice.
With a population of 227.78 million, the national rice production level would surpass national need estimated at 31.68 million tons a year.
Last year, Indonesia's dry unhusked rice output rose by 4.98 percent or 2.70 million tons from 2006, enabling the country to enjoy a surplus of 1.5 million tons.
