Quenched hectares: A farmer plows his rice field on Sept. 26 in Bulungcangkring village, Kudus regency, Central Java. (Photo:antaranews.com) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian AgricultureMinister Amran Sulaiman on November 13 said that the country will need to importup to 5 million tonnes of rice by 2024, citing the impact of the El Niñoclimate phenomenon on rice production.
Speaking during a meeting with the House of RepresentativesCommission IV, which oversees agriculture, environment, fisheries and foodsecurity issues, Amran said that this year, Indonesia decided to import 3.5million tonnes of rice and there’s a possibility that the country can reach 5million in 2024.
The minister shared that Indonesia's rice output isestimated to decrease to 30 million tonnes in 2023 from 31 million tonnes in2022. In addition, the 2024 rice harvest may be delayed by about two months,causing further supply shortages and hike in prices.
To cope with a downward trend in rice production, the Indonesian Ministry ofAgriculture has saved 1,000 billion IDR (63.7 million USD) from this year'stotal budget of 15,000 billion IDR to provide additional finance to the GeneralDepartment of Food Crops.
In addition, the ministry also proposed that the House of Representatives and theGovernment add an additional 5.830 trillion IDR to next year's budget, topromote cultivation and increase rice and corn production./.
