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KEYNOTE SPEECHOverview of Indonesias Food Security Strategy andits Vision for Food Security Cooperation in ASEAN

byPROF. DR. TAHLIM SUDARYANTO

Adviser for the Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Indonesia2nd Rice Trade ForumYogyakarta, Indonesia, 45 June 2013

Mr. Chairman,ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board members,ASEAN Secretariat representatives,ADB representatives,Distinguished delegates,Ladies and gentlemen,

Good Morning,

First of all, on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, I have the great pleasure and honourto welcome you all to the 2nd Rice Trade Forum.It is my privilege and honour to deliverthe Opening Remarks at this forum.

I would like to take this opportunity to note that the initiative of conducting this forum willcontribute to our common effort toward food security and as part of our continuedpreparatory steps toward ASEAN economic community integration on food, agricultureand the trade sectors.

Throughout this forum, I expect that issues, ideas and initiatives can be discussed andgenerated for the purpose of strengthening and resolving our common goal forsustainable rice trade and food security in the region.

As a staple food in Indonesia, rice is consumed by more than 90% of the population.The supply of rice is sourced from domestic production. In the event of climate problemssuch as drought or pest infestation and diseases that cause decline in production, partof the food needs are met from imports.To achieve self-sufficiency and food security in Indonesia, the government'scommitment has been established through the Presidential Directive that the countryshould not only have enough food but the targeted surplus of 10 million tonnes of rice in2014. In addition, we have committed in 2014, not only to sustain self-sufficiency in rice,but also to target self-sufficiency in corn, soybeans, sugar and meat.

To achieve those targets and strengthen the commitment on these, the Ministry ofAgriculture has set four targets to be achieved until 2014. The targets are sustainableself-sufficiency; increased food diversification; increased value added to exports andcompetitiveness; and improving the welfare of farmers.

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In achieving these targets, we are faced and influenced by the phenomenon of climatechange.

The challenge of climate change has become a global issue and impacts on agricultural

development in the future. Therefore, to prepare for these, we have defined an analysisimpact of climate change, inventory of stocks and delineation of affected areas.

The Ministry of Agriculture has set operational policies in anticipation of climate change,which include developing rice varieties resistant to drought and inundation, as well asdisseminating a Planting Calendar suitable to local climatic conditions.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The target of rice production in 2014 is 75.70 million tonnes compared to production in2009 amounting to 64.39 million tonnes. The average rate of increase in production

targeted is 3.51 percent per year. To achieve the rice production target for self-sufficiency and to ensure food security for all Indonesian people, last year, Indonesiastipulated a new food law, number 18 (2012). In that law, food security is defined as astate or condition that food needs are fulfilled at the country (macro) level as well as atthe individual level.

This situation can be measured through food availability for all people in terms ofquantity, quality, safety, diversity, nutrition component, accessibility, and affordability,and not contrary to religion, belief, and local culture.

With this law, Indonesia has put priority on the right of the state/nation to determine itsown food policy: to secure the right to food for its people, and to uphold the right of thecommunity to determine and implement their own food system based on their own localresource potential.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of you gathered heretoday. To all the delegates, I wish you a fruitful meeting and I hope this will producebeneficial results for the entire member countries of ASEAN. I wish you all greatsuccess in your deliberations, and have a pleasant and memorable stay in Yogyakarta.

Thank you.