Indonesian Gov't Plans 1 Bln Hectares of Rice Estates

The Indonesian government plans to have one billion hectares of rice estates in the country to meet the demand for rice in Muslim countries, its Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyanto said in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

We have discussed it with Sheikh Saleh Kamel (World Halal Forum chairman). We will do feasibility studies of this program and he will get investors to come to Indonesia, Anton said at a media conference on the sidelines of the World Halal Forum 2008 held in Kuala Lumpur.

In Indonesia, we have land and farmers but we need investors. And I hope this program will be running soon to meet the increasing demand for rice, Malaysian national news agency Bernama quoted Anton as saying.

I hope this will help Muslim countries all over the world, especially Malaysia which is facing a rice shortage. In Indonesia, we don't have many problems with rice because production is good, and prices are stable, he added.

Rice production in Indonesia this year is forecast at around 75 million tons, Anton said.

The annual consumption is from 72 to 73 million tons. So we will have surplus this year. But to strengthen our stocks, we decided not to export. But next year we will think about it, he said.

Though there was no formal cooperation with Malaysia, Indonesia was prepared to provide technical assistance on rice production if needed, Anton said.

 

Source: CRIEnglish