FOOD REINFORCES NATIONAL RESILIENCE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 12 (Antara) - A strong country will not only need an adequate defense force but also sufficient food supplies that reinforce its resilience.          Hence, it is not surprising that food resilience poses a major challenge now and in the future. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has even described food as the main factor that will hold the reign of power in future.          Ultimately, food is part of the energy sector, which could trigger conflicts. Present-day conflicts in the world have been triggered by the fight to control energy.          According to Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander General Gatot Nurmantyo, some 70 percent of the world's conflicts were fights to gain control over energy and oil.          "I ensure you that 70 percent of the conflicts are due to the fight to seize oil energy, as fossil energy cannot be renewed, and it is critical," the TNI commander had noted in a public lecture at the London School of Public Relations in Jakarta last month.          Once energy sources run out by 2056, the world will be faced with a looming food and water crisis. Other countries will then target the food and water resources owned by states that are situated close to the equator.

FOOD AKSI PROGRAM AIMED AT BUILDING FOOD RESILIENCE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 25 (Antara) - The launch of the Food Acceleration, Synergy, and Financial Inclusion program, called the Food AKSI program, Friday, in West Sumatra, is expected to maintain food resilience and improve the farmers' welfare in the agricultural sector.          The Financial Services Authority (OJK) launched the Food AKSI program in Sepuluh Kota District, West Sumatra, which is a synergy policy for accelerating financial inclusion to achieve food sovereignty.          The program is basically an integrated upstream and downstream financing program in the agricultural sector aimed at increasing the production of agricultural products and the prosperity of farmers in the country.          "The Food AKSI program is a concrete effort made by the OJK, along with the related ministries, government agencies, and financial service industries, to speed up and improve food sector financing, especially for the 11 main commodities," OJK Chairman D. Hadad stated in Jakarta on Friday.

INDONESIAN DELICACIES PROMOTED IN BEIJING, MOSCOW

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 11 (Antara) - One of the important factors that attract foreign tourists to visit a country is its culinary delicacy, which provides different selections of tastes and varieties for visitors to enjoy.         The cuisine of a country is part of the elements that support tourism of the country. In order to increase the arrivals of foreign tourists, Indonesia promotes its tourism by introducing its delicacies abroad, especially in China and Russia.          Tourism and culinary promotional activities were being organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, and a food festival was also held by the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow this week.         The Indonesian Embassy in Russia and Balkon, a top restaurant in an elite area of Novinskiy boulevard in Moscow, held the Indonesian Culinary Week from March 3 to 7.         During the culinary week, diners can enjoy typical Indonesian delicacies, such as fried rice, rending, and chicken noodle soup.

FIGHTING FOR FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 3 (Antara) - As an agriculture country, Indonesia was once self-sufficient in the production of rice, the staple food for its people of 250 million, but now it is importing some of the commodity and is struggling to regain its past glory in rice production.         Through the Ministry of Agriculture, the government has continued to improve regulations deemed to have been impeding Indonesia's efforts to regain its self-sufficiency in rice production.         "We are improving all regulations, which are seen to be hindering the pace towards achieving self-sufficiency in food production," Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said on the sidelines of a function held to observe the 36th World Food Day in Boyolali, Central Java, on Friday last week.         So far, all procurements such as the procurement of high-bred seeds and fertilizers should be carried out through tenders so that efforts to increase food production are often made late.         According to the Agriculture Minister, Indonesia has been  hit by the El Nino and La Nina weather phenomenon for two consecutive years. The challenges faced in 2015 were extraordinary and the heaviest ones along the history of Indonesia with an intensity of 2.44 percent.

INDONESIA POPULARIZES ITS CUISINE ON WORLD STAGE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 31 (Antara) - Indonesia, with its at least 300 ethnic groups and over 1,300 tribes, is surely rich in local delicacies and special dishes that could make the country popular in the world when it comes to culinary products.          Some popular Indonesian dishes such as nasi goreng (fried rice), gado-gado (vegetable salad), sate (small pieces of meat roasted on skewer/satay), and soto (soup) are ubiquitous in the country and considered Indonesia's national dishes.          Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said various Indonesian special culinary products had gone international and some were liked by world leaders such as United States President Barack Obama who liked 'bakso' (meat ball soup).          "The presence of many Indonesian restaurants in various countries is a testament to the fact that Indonesian delicacies are popular at the global level," the minister remarked in Jakarta on Monday.          Yahya noted that Indonesian culinary products were not inferior to those of China, Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia as the country has a varied range of cuisine. Indonesia needs to now package these dishes, so that these can have huge commercial and cultural value.

JAPANESE FOOD FIRMS HAVE GROWING INTEREST IN INDONESIA

BY Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 12 (Antara) - Japan, the third largest foreign investor country in Indonesia, is showing interest in expanding their businesses in the food sector after seeing progressive developments of the Japanese society in Indonesia.         "I have received reports that several Japanese food companies are contemplating entering Indonesia after observing the spurt in the number of Japanese restaurants and grocery stores in the country. This means that they already have market segments to sell their products in Indonesia," Franky Sibarani, the head of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), noted in a press statement in Jakarta Wednesday (March 9).          There were 1,199 students enrolled in Japanese schools in Jakarta in 2014. The institution also recorded that at the national level, there were 16 thousand Japanese expatriates living in Indonesia of which 10 thousand were in Jakarta, according to data at the representative office of the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro).          "Data on Japanese expatriates in Jakarta is the main factor that has led to new investment interest in Indonesia," he claimed.           Companies from Japan were so far mostly doing business in the electronics, automotive, and components sectors, in addition to garment products, Saribua Siahaan, the BKPM representative for investment promotion (IIPC) stated in Tokyo.

INDONESIA STILL NEEDS TO IMPORT FOOD IN 2016

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 28 (Antara) - Although it claims to have had a surplus of rice in 2015, Indonesia still imported rice throughout the year and will continue to import food items such as rice, beef and raw sugar in 2016.       According to Trade Minister Thomas Lembong, the government will still face difficulties in avoiding the need to import food in 2016 because it needs to maintain supplies to prevent food price hikes throughout the country.          He said he was not yet satisfied, because of the upward trend of food prices. So, he will not be able to prevent food from being imported to strengthen stocks and meet domestic needs, while waiting for larger agricultural harvests in the coming several years.          Based on monitoring in the field, the medium-quality price of rice has now reached Rp10,675 per kilogram (kg), which increased from Rp8,939 per kg in September, while the normal price is approximately Rp8,300 per kg.

GOVT NEEDS TO TAKE FARMERS' SIDE TO PROTECT THEM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 19 (Antara) - With a population of about 250 million and an annual growth of 1.5 percent, Indonesia is facing a challenge in raising its food production.          "We have numerous challenges, but foremost among these is the increase in population. The acreage under rice fields continues to shrink at a time when we need a two-fold increase in food production," Vice President Jusuf Kalla said while addressing a World Food Day anniversary celebration in Ogan Ilir District, South Sumatra, on Saturday.          Indonesian farmers who account for 31 million or about 12 percent of the population, play a crucial role in enhancing the country's food production. Therefore, the government should also pay more attention to farmers, instead of merely thinking of raising production through increasing the role of corporations.          According to the National Alliance for Prosperous Villages, the government, in its efforts to increase food production, is giving too much attention to corporations.          "The government gives more attention to corporations in its efforts to increase food production, especially regarding use of seeds, fertilizers and tractors, with farmers only being treated as captive users," Coordinator of the National Alliance for Prosperous Villages, Tejo Wahyu Jatmiko, stated on Friday.

GOVT VOWS TO ACHIEVE FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 8 (Antara) - The new Indonesian government under Joko Widodo, who was sworn in as Indonesia's seventh president last month, has vowed to meet it targets for food self-sufficiency by improving the infrastructure of the food sector.          "Within three years we must be self-sufficient in food and stop imports," Jokowi, as the president is popularly called, said after participating in a rice harvest in Barang Palier in the district of Pinrang, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday.          The President tried his hand at harvesting rice on some 2,500 hectares of rice fields during his visit to the village.          He earlier visited Sidrap District in the same province to officiate at the opening of an irrigation network in Mojong Bendoro village.  The network is capable of irrigating 12,000 hectares of rice fields.          "The President inaugurated the project with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday. The irrigation project has a width of six meters and a length of 2.2 km," Hnizon, a local irrigation official, said.

GOVT ENSURES FOOD STOCKS, DISTRIBUTION FOR FASTING MONTH

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, June 14 (Antara) - The government has checked food stocks and preparations for food distribution prior to Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, which will begin at the end of June.          "The rice stock available with traders is about 20 thousand tons and that in the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) warehouses remain at 10 thousand tons. So, the stock remains secure," Chief Economic Minister Chairul Tanjung said, while checking rice stocks at the Cipinang wholesale rice market in East Jakarta on Friday.          Earlier on Wednesday, Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi also conducted an inspection in a food distribution and retail center in Balaraja, Banten province, to ensure distribution of goods in the coming fasting month of Ramadan.          "We conducted the inspection to assure the availability of stocks. In yesterday's coordination meeting, we learned that food stocks and distribution were secure for the fasting month and the post-fasting Lebaran festivities. With these conditions, the public could solemnly conduct their fasting," Bayu Krisnamurthi said in a press statement on Wednesday.

NEXT GOVT EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON FOOD, PRO-PEOPLE PROGRAMS

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, April 30 (Antara) - As an agrarian country with vast areas and a country with a large population that depends on the agricultural sector, Indonesia should have been able to maintain its food sovereignty and resilience.          The agricultural sector, where most of Indonesia's 240 million tie their fate, should maximally be managed to provide fair distribution of prosperity to the all its people. Yet, the agriculture sector has not yet been maximally cultivated so far to improve people's welfare.          "There are many things that have to be done to create food sovereignty in Indonesia, one of which, is the fair distribution of the agrarian sector," Said Abdullah, coordinator of the working group of the Prosperous Village Alliance (ADS), stated on Tuesday.          Despite the fact that Indonesia has issued Law No. 41/2009 on Protection of Sustainable Food Crop Agricultural Land, yet it is weak in implementing the law. "So far, there has been massive conversion of agricultural land at a fast pace," Abdullah pointed out.          Likewise, the protection for small-scale farmers from uncertain weather conditions is also unclear. They still lack means of production. According to Abdullah, small-scale farmers are also often ignored and thus, fall prey to the efforts made in the name of developing food for national need.

GOVT SETS FOOD PRODUCTION TARGET TO ANTICIPATE IMPORTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 7 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has set a food production target, particularly for rice, the country's main staple, in anticipation of likely influx of food imports this year.          Agriculture Minister Suswono has forecast that global food production will increase this year amid an improving global agricultural climate. The increase in the production of food commodities will drive down food prices in the global market and will boost the import of food products to Indonesia.          In line with the predictions of increased food production, the government has set a food production target, which can meet domestic needs, particularly rice.          With a population of about 240 million, the domestic rice consumption is expected to reach 31 million tons. This is based on the estimates from the Food Hope Pattern (PPH) concept, where Indonesia's current rice consumption has reached 129 kg per capita per year.

RI'S POPULATION GROWTH THREATENS ITS FOOD RESILIENCE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 16 (Antara) - An official has predicted that Indonesia's population will reach 400 million by 2030, posing a threat to the country's food resilience if the government fails to prepare programs to increase its crop production.          At present, Indonesia's population is estimated at 240 million. The growing population will boost demand for rice, which is the staple food of the Indonesian people. Based upon estimates from the Food Hope Pattern (PPH) concept, the current need for rice has reached 129 kg per capita per year.          With this calculation, the demand for rice for the Indonesian people currently stands at about 31 million tons per annum.      By 2030, Indonesia's population is expected to reach 400 million, so the need for rice and other food products will also increase. "By 2030, our population will increase by 160 million and our need for rice will increase by 66 percent, as compared to the current demand," Setyo Purwadi,  the head of North Sumatra's Food Resilience Agency (BKP), said on Saturday.          Setyo Purwadi noted that this population growth will threaten the country's food resilience, which is not being balanced by increases in food production.

CARTELS ALLEGEDLY CONTROL INDONESIA'S SIX FOOD SECTORS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 12 (Antara) - Indonesia with its 240 million population is a huge market for food commodities, thus offering a loophole for 'shrewd' businesses to develop and practice oligopoly.          The high rocketing of beef prices in the Indonesian market of late has led many quarters to argue that cartels have controlled the food business in Indonesia.          The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) even believes that cartels have controlled prices in at least six food commodities.          It has predicted that the total benefits that the cartels could enjoy from the importation of food stuff could reach Rp11.3 trillion per annum from the total annual imports of foods worth Rp90 trillion.          Kadin Deputy Chairman for logistics affairs Natsir Mansyur said that the cartels could reap Rp11.3 trillion if, for example, they took a minimum profit of Rp1,000 per kg beef. It was reported beef importers took profit between Rp1,000 and Rp5,000 per kg.          "We believe that cartels have the potential to take place in six food commodity business, namely beef, chickens, sugar, soybean, maize and rice. From the six commodities they could reap a profit of about Rp11 trillion," he said.          He predicted the profit that the cartels could enjoy could reach the average range of 15 to 30 percent of the total imports.

FOOD DIVERSIFICATION THROUGH COURTYARD CULTIVATION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 29 (ANTARA) - Residential courtyards in Indonesia are being used to cultivate food crops and to diversify food production. Studies carried out by the National Land Affairs (BPN) show that in 2007, there were 4.1 million hectares of agricultural land in Java, but the figure dropped to 3.5 million in 2010. In fact, there has been a significant decline in the area of agricultural land due to industrial development.          To increase food production, people are now using their residential courtyards as alternative areas to develop food crops. "Courtyards can be converted into food barns," said Bambang Shergi Laksmono, a social welfare expert at the University of Indonesia (UI), on Thursday.          Indonesia has about 10.3 million hectares of land (courtyard) that can be utilized for the development of food crops, to improve the welfare of the people. Courtyards account for about 14 percent of the total agricultural land in the country.          As a food barn, a courtyard plays an important role in maintaining the resilience of food. In the past, people used to convert their yards into food barns by planting tubers.

GOVT TO SET UP FOOD AGENCY TO ACHIEVE FOOD RESILIENCE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - Indonesia, an agriculture-based country with a population over 237. 6 million and vast tracts of unused land outside Java Island, continues importing rice to meet its domestic needs.          Last year, Indonesia imported 2.75 million tons of rice worth US$1.5 billion to cover the shortage of its stocks for domestic needs, which has reached some 33 million tons annually.          Therefore, when the House of Representatives passed a revision to the 1996 Food Law last week that created a platform for the establishment of a new food authority body, many quarters hoped that the new body would be able to assure a resilient supply of food for the nation.           On Thursday last week the House endorsed the 1996 Food Law revision, creating a new agency that will have policy-making authority on food security issues, including issuing orders to relevant ministries.          The food authority agency, which will be established with a Presidential Regulation and answers to the President, will be charged with the task of formulating food policies and assuring the availability of national food stocks and stabile food prices.          It will also have the authority to assign state-owned firms to carry out production, procurement, stocks, distribution and control over food production. Thus, different conflicting polices governing food, which hampered the national food self-efficiency goals, are to be consolidated.          Currently, a number of ministries are regularly at odds over policies on the development of food and agricultural commodities.         "There are at least 14 ministries whose tasks are related to food issues. Rather than coordinating with each other, these ministries are mired in conflicts," Indonesian Political Economic Association (AEPI) agriculture expert Khudori was quoted as saying by the Jakarta Post on Monday.          Agricultural expert of the Bali-based Udayana University, Dewa Ngurah Suprapta, on Friday praised the plan to establish a food authority body that was needed to create a resilient food supply, as well as food sovereignty at home.          "Such an agency will have great responsibilities and will have to depend on the tasks given by the President," said Suprapta, who is also a visiting lecturer at universities in Japan.          He added that the president should provide full authority to such an agency and concerned ministers must fully support the food resilience agency in implementing its strategy.          "A national food agency with complete authority will be able to adopt strategies to achieve domestic production-based food resilience," the professor said.          He further said that Indonesia's agricultural policy only aimed to create food resilience and was not based on the capabilities and potential of the country's agriculture.          The government has to focus on local production and take steps to reduce the nation's dependence on imported products in order to achieve food security.          "By passing the revision of the Food Law, the food authority agency is expected to help the nation achieve food security soon, because the board is responsible for tackling Indonesia's food problems, as stated in the law," Suprapta said.          In essence, the food authority agency must be a strong body so that its policies will be effective.          Agricultural observer Tejo Wahyu Jatimiko, who is also coordinator of the Alliance for Prosperous Village organization, said the food agency must have strong authority in controlling food policies so that imports of food could be reduced.          "Logically, the body must have the highest authority in food affairs so that it could be effective in reducing the country¿s food imports," Tejo Wahyu Jatmiko told Antara on Thursday.          He said that dependence on imports could be stopped because all matters, such as production, distribution and consumption, were managed under one command. Further, the agency's position in the government should be at the level of a coordinating minister so that it would have strong authority in controlling food affairs, and should answer to the president.          "The idea of the establishment of the agency is to harmonize policies among the 14 ministries and state institutions which, so far, also handle food problems. The agency should at least have a level equal to the coordinating minister so that it would have effective power," he said.          He cited as an example the ministry of agriculture, which handled production; state-logistics board (Bulog) oversees distribution and the ministry of trade tackled food trade.          So, he said, the presence of the agency was something extraordinary, particularly with regard to its authority. The agency must also ensure the availability of productive land so that land conversion to purposes other than agriculture would be prevented.          Agricultural land conversion into industrial sites, estate or for other purposes is believed to be one of the causes of the lack of agricultural products and dependence upon imports in Indonesia.          Agriculture Minister Suswono has predicted that about 100 thousand hectares of agricultural lands are converted to other purposes each year.          It is this reason that the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) said that Law No. 5 /1960 on the Agrarian Affairs must be observed regarding agricultural land conversion. One of the points in the law was that land was designed for the interests of the people, including the interest of developing food for them.         "We already have the law which regulates that land has social functions, so we do not need a technical regulation on land conversion," HKTI deputy chairman Rachmat Pambudy said.          He further said the government, in following up the revision of the 1996 Food Law, did not need to issue a technical regulation on the restriction of agricultural land conversion.          The existing law could be implemented to restrict agricultural land conversion, which is seen as one of the factors that boosted imports of agricultural products. The government, according to some observers, has not yet given appropriate attention to local products in carrying out its food resilience program.          "Food resilience has been given priority, so far, with the government importing commodities, such as rice, in times of shortages, but efforts have not been directed towards increasing production at home," Suprapta said.          Therefore, he hoped the establishment of the food authority agency would help in achieving domestic production-based food resilience.           In the meantime, Saprudin, head of the Directorate of Rain-fed Rice Fields of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that Indonesia had no problem in achieving food security in 2012, with the three million ton-surplus rice production target likely to be reached this year.          "This year, the country's (unhusked) rice production target is set at 65 million tons, which would leave a surplus of three million tons, Saprudin said  on Tuesday.           Further, according to Saprudin, the country's rice production target for 2013 is set at 75 million tons.           "We are confident of reaching the target in 2013. We are also optimistic about achieving a 10 million ton surplus in rice production in 2014," he added.***2*** (T.A014/A/KR-BSR/O001) 27-10-2012 14:50:0

RI DEVELOPS COURTYARD CROPS AS LOCAL FOOD SOURCE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 6 (ANTARA) - In anticipation of a national or global food crisis, the Indonesian government has developed the ability to supply food at the village level through a residential courtyard food crops development program.          Called the Sustainable Food House Zone (KRPL), the program encourages villagers to develop family food crop plantations, including vegetables such as eggplant, chili, tomatoes, mustard greens and tubers, which could be grown in their courtyards.          Since it was launched in 2008, the program has involved some 5,000 villages across the country, and the government plans to expand the program to 1,700 other villages by 2013. About 80 percent of the plantations begun in the 5,000 villages has been successful, according to officials.          Therefore, the ministry of agriculture will select 1,700 other villages to be cultivated as KRPL regions in 2013 in an effort to quicken the country's food diversification programs.          "The government will continue to increase the number of KRPL zones by involving women¿s farmers groups (KWT), which have committed themselves to planting different food crops that produce vegetables and fruits," Achmad Suryana, the head of Food Resilience Affairs of the Agriculture Ministry, said when he observed a KRPL program in Taman Bumi Bora hamlet, Kawo village, Central Lombok district, West Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday.          The courtyard food crops development program was launched with the government offering guidance and financing.          Further, according to Ahmad, the government will provide Rp36 million per group for those residents who cultivate KRPL zones in 2013.          This fund is larger than the previous allocation of Rp16 million in 2012.          The funds are used for yard preparations, vegetable and fruit seeds, and purchasing tools, particularly tools that will be used to produce powder and tuber products.          The various yields produced, such as eggplant, chili, tomatoes and mustard greens, can meet residents¿ daily needs, allowing them to save hundreds of thousands of rupiah per month, said officials.          Housewives who receive financial assistance to develop courtyard food crops can also earn additional incomes through the production of powder products from cassava or taro raw materials.          "Besides meeting the need of their families from vegetables grown in their yards, housewives can also earn additional incomes by producing cassava powder or processing the powder into economically valuable cakes," Ahmad noted.          The agriculture ministry official said the ministry's Food Resilience Agency (BKP) in the district and provincial levels will provide guidance for three years by sending their agricultural instructors to the villages.          Ahmad said farmers groups would receive instructions in the first year, consolidation in the second year and assistance to expand the planted areas in the third year.          After the extension stage, farmers are expected to maintain their yard plantations and expand the system to other farmer families.          "We hope that the KRPL program will continue to be developed after the assistance program. It should not happen that after a harvest, they stop the cultivations. That's why we ask the food resilience agencies in the district and provincial levels to continue guiding them," Ahmad said.          Additionally, he expressed his satisfaction with the program, since 80 percent of courtyard food crops in about 5,000 villages throughout the country were successful.          Due to this success, Agriculture Minister H Suswono on Friday explained the program to delegates from eight developing countries (D-8) during their meeting on food security affairs in Senggigi, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).          The minister said that in an effort to boost the country's food security, Indonesia has been promoting the Sustainable Food Houses Zone (KRPL)  program.          "The program is a breakthrough in addressing not only food concerns, but also climate change," Suswono pointed out.          Even though Indonesia is considered to be safe from the food crisis threat, it has still been encouraged to take anticipatory steps, such as utilizing residential courtyards as plantation areas.          This program has been very helpful for many families in improving their welfare and in obtaining additional income. Besides assisting in the provision of food for residents, the program is also expected to reduce household expenditures by between Rp200.000 and Rp500.000 per month, the minister noted.          "Households can reduce their expenses with home-grown vegetables and home-raised eggs. The program will also be adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)," Suswono stated.          He noted that the FAO expressed interest in adopting the program developed by the ministry of agriculture. "They asked us to make a film on the program's benefits, which they will use as a global module. We've made the film and hope that the FAO can promote it throughout the world. This is one of Indonesia's contributions to the world," Suswono added.          The minister said that while Indonesia was not yet threatened with a food crisis, neither was the world, though it should take anticipatory steps as early as possible.       "The FAO representatives have stated that the world has not yet been hit by a global food crisis, but the organization has warned that a food crisis threat is real," Agriculture Minister H Suswono said.          However, he said, the international food organization had warned all developing countries to be prepared for a global food crisis.          In the meantime, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono earlier stated that the increasing number of people in the consuming class in the country constituted a favorable opportunity for businesses to prepare themselves.          "The businesses in this sector have a good prospect in Indonesia," President Yudhoyono told a leadership meeting of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) on Tuesday.          The President also said demand for food and energy would continue to increase in keeping with the expanding world population, which was expected to increase from today¿s 7 billion to 9 billion by 2024.          This population will require about 60 to 70 percent more food and energy supplies, according the president.***2***  (T.A014/A/KR-BSR/O001) 06-10-2012 14:03:

COMMODITY PRICES SHOWING UPWARD TREND

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 18 (ANTARA) - Commodity prices in the country, particularly those of basic necessities, have begun to show a rising trend in the run-up to the fasting month of Ramadan that begins at the end of the week.          Economist of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) Enny Sri Hartati said that this increase was due to certain private businesses which manipulate prices in order to create a condition where the markets are non- competitive.          "There are certain parties who control and decide prices in accordance to their desires. That causes the markets to be non-competitive," said Enny on Tuesday.          Prices of various basic necessities in Jakarta, for example, have continued to increase in the past several days. Traders say prices have been increasing, since the past three weeks.          Anik, one of the traders at Gandaria Market in Central Jakarta, said that the price of chicken had been on the rise since the last three weeks. Almost all food prices are on the rise. A relatively big chicken is usually sold at Rp18,000 each. "Now its price has reached up to Rp35,000 each," Anik said.          There is a steep price increase even for meat. Meat trader Usin said that the beef prices had increased to Rp80,000 per kg from Rp70,000 per kg. "Demand for meat continues to increase even as our stocks continue to be limited,¿ he explained.       The same is true for other commodity prices. Chili was sold between Rp15,000 and Rp16,000 last week, but had increased to Rp20,000, before selling at Rp28,000 per kg on Tuesday.          Traders said that different types of onions like garlic and 'Bombay' onion had seen price increases from Rp12,000 to Rp18,000, and Rp8,000 per kg to Rp11,000 per kg respectively.          Meanwhile, the price of eggs rose from Rp16,000 per kg to rp20,000 per kg. In the meantime, rice price also increased, but ever so slightly. The price of best quality rice increased from Rp7,000 per kg to Rp10,000 per kg.          'Putri Sejati' rice also experienced a price increase of some Rp100 per kg daily. The price of a sack of rice weighing about 25 kg, has now reached Rp25 thousand, increasing by Rp2,500 per kg. It is now being sold at Rp8,200 per kg.         With reference to sugar, trader Ipan said that sugar price also was up from Rp12,000 per kg to Rp13,000 per kg.          Traders said that although prices were now on the rise, the number of consumers buying the commodities did not decline citing regular demand. Still, a number of consumers complained about the price increases.          According to a buyer Budhiarti, the prices of food items had shot up, particularly beef, chicken and chili. She said she used to spend anywhere between Rp50,000 and Rp80,000 when she visited the market to shop for her kitchen needs.         "Now, I have spent Rp100,000, without buying rice. Rice used to be sold at Rp170,000 for 20 kg, but now it sells at Rp195,000 per 20 kg," Budhiarti complained when we met her in a market at Jakarta.          Data at the Ministry of Trade and Industry on July 10, indicated that the national average price of beef was Rp75,332 per kg, of chicken rp27,081 per kg, of egg Rp18,301 per kg, of sugar Rp13,123 per kg and of red chili Rp28,387 per kg. The average increase in the prices of these goods when compared to those from last June is between Rp1000 and Rp3,000 per kg.          According to Indef economist Enny Sri Hartarti, demand during the season increases in the run up to the fasting month and during the post-fasting festivities, locally called "Lebran," and could be seen as being realistic, since consumers would continue to shell out money for basic necessities.         Therefore, Agriculture Minister Suswono urged business players to not make use of this opportunity to overtly raise prices. "We urged business players to alleviate the price burden of consumers by not overly raising prices," the minister said on Tuesday.          He added that if the commodity prices sky-rocket, they would adversely disadvantage the business players left with excessive stocks that remain unsold during this upward trend, which will further lead up to a drastic price drop.          The minister acknowledged that the government faced difficulties in controlling price increases because it had no agency in charge of conducting market operations for basic necessities other than for rice.          The government only has the logistics agency (BULOG) that has authority to conduct market inspections on rice.  "Bulog can launch market operations to stabilize rice prices, but the other necessities such as eggs are left to the market mechanism in order to decide prices," the minister asserted.         Suswono said that during the run-up to the fasting month, prices increased but they would begin to drop after the first week of Ramadan, and would increase yet again during the post-fasting Idul Fitri Lebaran festivities.          Therefore, the minister called on the people to not panic during this upward trend. "Public panic could adversely be taken advantage of by traders to overly raise prices," said the agriculture minister.         He said that the main problem facing the markets was logistics and distribution. The rise in prices was due to the scarcity of food items in circulation. The scarcity would not have taken place if distribution was running well and smoothly.         Therefore, the government is now preparing transportation facilities to streamline the inter-island distribution of commodities, including cattle.         "Now, beef stocks are enough. Stocks of slaughter cows are also adequate because we have a headcount of 150,000 cows that can be supplied if there is a significant price rise," the minister concluded. ***2*** (T.A014/INE/o001) (T.A014/A/KR-BSR/O001) 18-07-2012 14:19:47

CONSUMERS WARNED OF EXPIRED GOODS DURING FASTING MONTH

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 16 (ANTARA) - Many traders try to take advantage of the high food consumption during and post Ramadhan fasting month by selling illegally trademarked products, and expired foods and beverages on the market.           In order to protect people from consuming expired goods, government agencies like trade and industry services as well as the Food and Drug Supervision Agency (BPOM) will conduct market inspections.         This is in line with the call made by the Indonesian Consumer Institute Foundation (YLKI).  "We are calling on relevant services and agencies to increase supervision to guarantee that food items released into the market are safe and secure for public consumption," said Chairman of YLKI for West Sumatra Syaharman Zanhar earlier on the occasion.          Besides checking on expired goods, the government must also ensure the normal availability of food stocks and basic necessities needed by consumers during the holy month of Ramadhan that¿s expected to start next Friday or Saturday.         For this purpose, the government will hold a meeting this week to discuss and evaluate the availability of food stocks during the fasting month. "The evaluation of food stocks will be done by the coordinating ministers," remarked Agriculture minister Suswono at the Presidential Palace last week.         "So far we have no problems, but we will evaluate it next week at a coordination meeting on economic affairs," he asserted. The government will evaluate the availability of three commodities: rice, meat (beef and chicken) and sugar.

GOVT PREPARING FOOD STOCKS IN FACE OF FASTING MONTH

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 12 (ANTARA) - Like in previous years, the issue of food stocks is a crucial one during the run-up to Ramadhan, the holy fasting month for Muslims, and its post-festivities, locally called "Labaran."    The government has further assured that food stocks in the country will be enough to last during the holy month that¿s expected to start either on July 20th or 21st.         "We have big stocks stored at the warehouses of the state logistics board Bulog," revealed Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa on Tuesday.          He explained that Bulog's rice stocks totaled 1.5 million tons and it had procured about 2.4 million tons of rice since January this year.          In the meantime, Agriculture Minister Suswono asserted that the country's rice production could reach over 7 million tons by September 2012.          Based on the data furnished by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the volume of rice production showed an increase of 4.30 percent. "Rice stocks are enough to last during the post-fasting festivities of Lebaran," Suswono asserted.          Regarding the possibility of rice price hikes, the minister said it was possible that rice prices could increase although not significantly.          He said that the ability of Bulog to procure rice from farmers this year was better than that of last year's. Up till now, Bulog has absorbed about 2.4 million tons of rice.          This figure is higher than what was seen during the corresponding period of 2011, which stood at only 1.7 million tons.          The logistics board agency has set itself a target of absorbing rice amounting to about 3 to 3.5 million tons in 2012.          "Presently, a number of regions are waiting to harvest their fields and with the current normal climate continuing, it seems that there is no need to worry about rice production. This will enable Bulog to absorb more rice stocks," he added.          Even though, it is sure that the food stocks are quite enough, the government has still planned to hold a meeting to discuss and evaluate the availability of food stocks next week.          Speaking from the Presidential State Palace on Tuesday, Agriculture minister Suswono said that an evaluation on food stocks would be carried out at the Coordinating ministers' meeting.          "So far we have no problems but we will evaluate the status next week at a coordination meeting on economic affairs," the minister said.          The government will evaluate the availability of stocks of three commodities, namely rice, meat (beef and chicken) and sugar.          Earlier, Acting Director General for Agricultural Product Processing and Marketing Banun Harpini had said that the people did not need to worry about the availability of food stocks during the fasting month and Lebaran.          In order to ensure the availability of meat, the government has proposed an importation of beef during the third and fourth quarters of this year.          Although the government guarantees the availability of food stocks, it also predicts that the prices of a number of commodities might also increase slightly, particularly those of garlic and chili.          Yet, the increase in the prices of the commodities during the run-up to the fasting month is predicted to be within reasonable limits as a result of psychological impacts of increasing demand.          Banun who is also the head of the agricultural quarantine service of the Agricultural Ministry said that the public meat consumption in Indonesia was still low.              It is known that the people's animal protein consumption such as in chicken, beef, egg, milk and others continues to be low. "Therefore, we need to encourage people to increase their animal protein intakes so as to boost production,¿ he claimed.          The per capita consumption of the Indonesian people for chicken is only about 7 kg per year, lower than that of the Malaysians which stands at 36 kg per annum. The Indonesian egg consumption is only about 80 per capita per annum, whereas the Malaysians consume about 311 per capita per year.          However, Banun believes that this number will increase in line with the improvement of their welfare.          "There is a good prospect for animal husbandry industry in the country," he added.          In the meantime, the Indonesian Consumer Institute (YLKI) urged all the relevant services to increase their supervision of food products during Ramadhan.          Chairman of YLKI for West Sumatra Syaharman Zanhar stated that the demand for different types of food products during and the post-fasting month will increase drastically.          He said that the increasing demand could be taken advantage of by irresponsible traders who put sub-standard products in the market. "Therefore, supervision should be tightened," he cautioned.          "We are calling on relevant services and agencies to increase supervision and guarantee goods that are released into the market continue to be safe and secure for public consumption," he said.          He mentioned that these relevant agencies were the Food and Drug Supervision Agency (BPOM) and the industrial and trade services, among others.          Syaharman said that it was not impossible that irresponsible parties would take advantage of the momentum of the fasting month to sell expired goods, non standard foods and unregistered with the BPOM.           The YLKI also called on the relevant agencies to supervise the selling of goods prepared for consumption during the breaking of the fast so that they would be free from chemical substance, formaldehyde and borax.***2*** (T.A014/INE/o001) 12-07-2012 15:04