National Food Prices Are Still Safe

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Some areas in the world are experiencing a food crisis due to international events occurred recently. The war between Russia and Ukraine is said to have caused a 50 percent increase in world food prices. Fortunately, the domestic food price condition is still under control.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the national food price that was still maintained was due to the services of the farmers. He appreciated Indonesian farmers and Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) for their contribution to maintaining national food availability.

Jokowi said that world food prices had increased by 30 to 50 percent as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war. However, according to him, Indonesia is still lucky because the farmers are still producing.

“We are still profitable, Alhamdulillah, our people, especially farmers, are still producing rice and until now the price has not increased. Hopefully, it doesn’t go up. Because the stock is always there,” said Jokowi at the Peak event of the commemoration of the 29th National Family Day 2022, in Medan, quoted in the official Ministry of Agriculture, Thursday (7/7/2022).

With the maintenance of food products such as rice which has been no longer imported in the last three years, Jokowi also expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Agriculture.

In his speech, Jokowi explained that national rice production in 2019 reached 31.31 million tons, increased in 2020 to 31.36 million tons, and in 2021 it was 31.33 million tons.

“Usually we import 1.5 million tons, 2 million tons. It is no longer imported. This is the Minister of Agriculture present here. Thank you, Minister,” he said.

The availability and relatively stable price of rice, according to the Head of State, is something to be grateful for. Because countries in Africa and some in Asia are starting to face acute food shortages.

Therefore, food independence is important, so the President invites all Regents and Mayors to use the smallest land for planting and producing daily food needs.

“Don’t let there be empty land, use it for our children’s nutritional intake. Because we plant wherever it grows and we can harvest it. That is very important because our children today are the determinants of the future face of Indonesia,” he continued.

Food security is an important condition for the development of Indonesian children in competing in the future. Jokowi continued, that from food sufficiency, Indonesian children can avoid stunting so that the growth of the Indonesian generation can be optimal.

Furthermore, the Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul, said that the availability of food (rice) for 2022 was still maintained. Therefore, Indonesia does not need to import rice from abroad.