Indonesian President Invites Farmers for Lunch
Friday, 11 April, 2008 | 18:30 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono invited farmers, food producers, and fishermen to have lunch together at Freedom Palace. “I want to hear directly how to increase our food production and to seek solutions to our food problems that also occurs around the world,” said the President at Freedom Palace, today.

The meeting was attended by planters of rice, corn, and soy; seed production ; seed producers association; rice mill association, farmers association for plant disease; and farmers and fishermen cooperation.

From the government’s side, the meeting was attended by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Widodo AS; Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Boediono; Coordinating meeting for People's Welfare, Aburizal Bakrie; Industry Minister Mari Elka Pangestu; Agricultural Minister, Anton Apriantono; State Minister for Research and Technology, Kusmayanto Kadiman; State Minister for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, Suryadharma Ali; and Head of Indonesian Cooperative Board, Adi Sasono.

The President wishes to increase food production in Indonesia, especially corn and soy bean. Although the rice supply is enough other commodities such as beef and soybean are still low. “Let's increase it,” he said.

As it is reported, the food crisis has been threatening Asia. The international price of rice has been increased. Some countries have tightened their rice export to secure the domestic supply.

Ninin Damayanti/Fanny Febiana