President Warns Of Climate Impact on Food Security

Jakarta, Aug 6 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said that data provided by several international bodies indicates that climate change has had a negative impact on food production, and that all concerned parties should assess the consequences of this impact on the country`s food availability and security. While speaking at a coordination meeting on agriculture and food security at the Ministry of Agriculture on Monday, the President said that all stakeholders should foresee a decrease in food availability as a result of climate change. "Our biggest challenge is that climate change coupled with a long spell of drought can raise global food prices. Therefore, we need to take steps to improve our food security and self-sufficiency," he said. President Yudhoyono said he hoped that Indonesia is able to gain self-sufficiency in not only rice, but also in meat, maize, and soybean in the future. "Our target is to have a rice surplus of 10 million tons by 2014 as well as self-sufficiency in rice, maize, sugar, meat, and soybean," he added. The coordination meeting, which was chaired by the President, focused on the progress of the food program and agriculture in relation to the government`s action plan. The meeting was also attended by Vice President Boediono, Coordinating minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, Agriculture minister Suswono, Trade minister Gita Wirjawan, and several other officials. The president held a number of coordination meetings to discuss matters related to transportation and public works, and health last week. These coordination meetings are a part of President Yudhoyono`s Ramadan initiative aimed at checking the progress of government programs in these ministries.