Government set target of food (paddy, corn, and soybean)
self-sufficiency by 2014. Two years more, attempts to achieve target are still
facing problem. Therefore, there should be a political support from the
government so that the problems that hamper target achievement can be settled.
Fadel Muhammad, General Chairman of Indonesian Agribusiness and
Agroindustrial Society (MAI), said that looking at the agricultural condition
in Indonesia, particularly food, there is a continual increase of import, not
only in terms of volume, but also in term of value.
Since 2004, Indonesia has been continually importing rice. In 2011, rice
import reaches 1.8 million ton, and in 2012 is estimated to reach around
400,000 ton. Even, volume and value of wheat import is the biggest among 7
imported foodstuffs.
Soybean import volume in 2009 has started to decline, but in 2010
increase. In 2012, the National Soybean Council recorded that soybean import
reaches 2 - 2.5 ton.
Like corn commodity, even though local corn production reaches 18.96
million ton in 2012, as national corn consumption exceeds production capacity,
import is inevitable. In 2012 it is estimated at 1.5 million ton. Due to high
level of food import, Indonesia has been caught in the global food trap.
We must be careful with this condition. Since 1996, there was an
increasing tendency of food demand globally. While in fact, since 1997 growth
of world’s food production is much slower than consumption growth. This
condition caused increase in food price.
Therefore, the government must realize and understand the factors that
contribute to increase of food prices. The government must make a national food
politics based on local capacity. If the government is consistent in building
food management based on independence, populism, and justice, food
self-sufficiency can be achieved.
If we observe quality of development output in the past eight years,
justice and populism aspects are less paid attention to in the formulation and
implementation of national development policy. Agricultural policy, in a
broader sense, must pay attention to marginal cost of crops cultivation to
maintain farmers income.
Bustanul Arifin, Professor at Lampung University, said that target of 10
million tons of rice surplus is actually a small thing if the government is
willing to work hard, to reduce yield gap between test plots and farmers land.
In 2012, paddy production reaches 68.9 million ton of dry paddy (GKG) or 39.3
million ton of rice, or increases 4.9% from 2011.
With rice consumption at 113.5 kg/capita, total consumption of 237.6
million people is 27 million ton. If this data correct, there must be rice
surplus of 10 million ton. Actually, it is unnecessary for Indonesia to import
rice. But the fact is that in 2012, Indonesia’s rice import reaches 1.8 million
ton. Why this happened Estimation basis of rice surplus. Data of the National
Bureau of Statistics (BPS) is said to be overestimate, especially in planting
index basis.
BPS also questioned why every time we are approaching General Election,
rice production growth increases quite highly. For example, in 2004 increases
3.74%, in 2009 increases 6.75%, and in 2012 increase 4.87%. This is what I
found.
In the future, Indonesia will need a promotive policy in biotechnology,
research and development support commitment, and development and research for
development in public institutions. In addition to that, economic incentive
system for private sector and the public at large based on a synergic and
sustainable ABGC (academicians, business, government and civil society)
partnership.
Future reposition is necessary to so that agricultural development
should be integrated with rural development strategy, increase of capacity of
human resources and social institutionalism.
In the future, agribusiness and agricultural sectors could become
Indonesia’s economic prospect. A new incentive system based on innovation and
technology must be developed. This is to minimize yield gap, especially in food
products. (E)
Business News - January 02, 2013
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