Karawang, W Java (Antara Bali)- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has stated that the national rice stock is adequate currently, therefore rice import is not necessary.
"Our rice demand can be fulfilled by our farmers' rice production, no need for import. Until this second, there is no import, although we have received many pressures," the president said after visiting rice fields in Karawang, here, Sunday.
Indonesia's rice stock reaches 1.7 million tons at present. In October and November, there will be more rice harvests, he added.
"It's adequate, and safe," he remarked.
Parks of the stock will be used for poor families and reserves as the nation is facing El Nino. Basically, the stock is adequate for December and January.
There is also a potential stock of 15 million tons from next harvests until December.
"The future challenge is how to provide incentives for farmers to encourage them to produce more rice," he noted.
The government has designated six provinces - West Java, East Java, Central Java, North Sumatra, South Sumatra and South Sulawesi, as regions that support food nationally.
President Jokowi was accompanied by First Lady Iriani when visiting Cikarang village, Banyusari subdistrict, Karawang district, which is one of the country's major rice producers.
Rector of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) Herry Suhardiyanto explained that paddy of IPB 3S and IPB 4S varieties were planted on rice fields measuring 730 hectares in Karawang.
Among officials present in the event were Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman, Head of the National Logistic Board (Bulog) Djarot Kusumayakti, Deputy Governor of West Java Deddy Mizwar, acting District Head of Karawang Selly, and Chief of Staff of the Army General Moelyono. (WDY)
