ID :
16001
Fri, 08/15/2008 - 15:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/16001
The shortlink copeid
PRESIDENT: RI REGAINS SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN RICE
Jakarta, Aug 15 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia managed to regain self-sufficiency in rice this year (2008) and this was for the first time since the New Order era that the national rice production surpassed the country's rice consumption.
"We should actually be grateful, because the food situation in our country is relatively better than in many other countries," the head of state made the remark in his state of the nation address on the draft state budget 2009 and the financial notes before the House of Representatives (DPR) members who held a plenary meeting here on Friday.
Furthermore, the president said, also for the first time since the New Order era, the price of rice in Indonesia is lower than that in the international market.
The New Order era is a term of time during former president Soeharto's regime from 1966 to 1998.
"We must not only maintain this rice surplus, but also raise it. In the midst of such current global food crisis, we must reinforce our national food stock," the president said.
According to the president, the government has decided that the national rice stock should be raised to three million tons, from the previous one of a mere one million tons.
"Only then, can we talk about the possibility of exporting rice. Such a robust stock will guarantee our food security and, at the same time, price stability at an affordable level for the public at large," he said.
On the occasion, Yudhoyono also called on the people to refrain themselves from blaming, attacking and discrediting each other for the sake of momentary political gains.
"We must, on the contrary, remain optimistic, continue to work together, hand-in-hand to transform crisis into opportunity, for the good of the Indonesian people," he said.
"We should actually be grateful, because the food situation in our country is relatively better than in many other countries," the head of state made the remark in his state of the nation address on the draft state budget 2009 and the financial notes before the House of Representatives (DPR) members who held a plenary meeting here on Friday.
Furthermore, the president said, also for the first time since the New Order era, the price of rice in Indonesia is lower than that in the international market.
The New Order era is a term of time during former president Soeharto's regime from 1966 to 1998.
"We must not only maintain this rice surplus, but also raise it. In the midst of such current global food crisis, we must reinforce our national food stock," the president said.
According to the president, the government has decided that the national rice stock should be raised to three million tons, from the previous one of a mere one million tons.
"Only then, can we talk about the possibility of exporting rice. Such a robust stock will guarantee our food security and, at the same time, price stability at an affordable level for the public at large," he said.
On the occasion, Yudhoyono also called on the people to refrain themselves from blaming, attacking and discrediting each other for the sake of momentary political gains.
"We must, on the contrary, remain optimistic, continue to work together, hand-in-hand to transform crisis into opportunity, for the good of the Indonesian people," he said.
