President Calls For Food Production Increase, Reduction In Imports

Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Oct 29 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called upon the nation to increase food production and reduce its dependency upon food imports. Chairing a coordinating meeting on food security here on Tuesday, the president said dependency on food imports is not good in the long term, and the correct solution for food security is increasing food production at home. Further, cooperation and action among the central government, local governments and the private sector are crucial for food security, he noted. Also, extra hard work is needed to ensure food security amidst the growing population rate, changes caused by climate change and the global food trade, he added. The national food supply has been adequate, but a plan of action is needed to anticipate an increase in population, which currently stands at some 250 million people, he said. He also ordered the drafting of an action plan to increase food production in Indonesia. The plan of action should be clear, realistic and achievable for meeting the nation`s food demand, the president said. The coordinating meeting was attended by a number of ministers and governors. They included South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin, Central Kalimantan Governor Teras Narang, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor Muhammad Zainul Majdi, East Java Governor Soekarwo, West Papua Governor Abraham Atururi, South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo, and Deputy Governor of West Java Dedy Miswar. Among ministers present in the meeting were Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi, Transportation Minister EE Mangindaan, Education Minister Muhammad Nuh, Agriculture Minister Suswono, National Development Planning Minister/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Armida Alisjahbana, and Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi. The president and his entourage are on a four-day visit to West Sumatra to attend World Food Day activities on October 31, 2013, in Padang.