President Announces Direct Rice Purchase Mechanism for Farmers' Benefit

Jakarta, Feb 14 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said his government is designing a system to directly purchase farmers' unhusked rice at a higher price. "We are designing a direct purchase system so that in the future we will buy farmers' unhusked rice at higher prices," the President said while attending the Second National Working Meeting of the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), in Solo, Central Java, on Friday night. He said that such a system needs to be implemented. After all, based on studies, the distribution of fertilizers has not achieved its target effectively. “Based on our studies, the fertilizers were not distributed to the farmers. Is that right? Of course that is right. I know it," he noted. Therefore, funds from the fuel oil subsidy reduction will be diverted to supporting the welfare of farmers. They will be helped not only with seeds, fertilizers and tractors, but also with infrastructure development. "We will also build infrastructure and 49 dams. This year we plan to build 13 dams," the President remarked. Jokowi explained that the government will make all efforts to reinforce food resilience, food sovereignty and food self-reliance. "I saw damaged irrigation networks, which have not been repaired over the last two to three decades. So, we will put pressure on the agriculture minister to improve the irrigation system," the President stated. According to the Secretary of the National Water Resources Council (DSDAN), Adang Saf Ahmad, the country's rice production is predicted to reach 70.61 million tons in 2015 for dry unhusked rice. Currently irrigated rice fields total 7.1 million hectares, 53 percent of which are in a good condition, with the rest being less productive. "Newly irrigated rice fields need to be built in order to boost rice production. In addition, the irrigation system needs repair," Adang stated. He said that without concrete action, rice production will drop to 66.02 million tons in 2017 and to 58.63 million tons in 2025, compared with consumption of 70.7 million tons or a deficit of 12.1 million tons. In the meantime, regarding fishermen, President Jokowi said funds averted from the fuel oil subsidy reduction will also be used to buy machinery for vessels, cold storage and various other facilities for fishermen. "We will get more opportunities to fish in the sea because many (illegal fishing boats) have been sunk on Mrs. Susi's orders (the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister). I have received reports about the sinking of 11 boats," the President added.