KEYNOTE SPEECH Overview of Indonesias Food Security Strategy and its Vision for Food Security Cooperation in ASEAN

by PROF. DR. TAHLIM SUDARYANTO Adviser for the Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Indonesia 2nd Rice Trade Forum Yogyakarta, 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 honour to welcome you all to the 2nd Rice Trade Forum. It is my privilege and honour to deliver the Opening Remarks at this forum. I would like to take this opportunity to note that the initiative of conducting this forum will contribute to our common effort toward food security and as part of our continued preparatory steps toward ASEAN economic community integration on food, agriculture and the trade sectors. Throughout this forum, I expect that issues, ideas and initiatives can be discussed and generated for the purpose of strengthening and resolving our common goal for sustainable 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 problems such as drought or pest infestation and diseases that cause decline in production, part of the food needs are met from imports. To achieve self-sufficiency and food security in Indonesia, the government's commitment has been established through the Presidential Directive that the country should not only have enough food but the targeted surplus of 10 million tonnes of rice in 2014. 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 of Agriculture has set four targets to be achieved until 2014. The targets are sustainable self-sufficiency; increased food diversification; increased value added to exports and competitiveness; and improving the welfare of farmers.

In achieving these targets, we are faced and influenced by the phenomenon of climate change. 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 analysis impact 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 as disseminating 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 in 2009 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 selfsufficiency and to ensure food security for all Indonesian people, last year, Indonesia stipulated a new food law, number 18 (2012). In that law, food security is defined as a state or condition that food needs are fulfilled at the country (macro) level as well as at the individual level. This situation can be measured through food availability for all people in terms of quantity, 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 its own food policy: to secure the right to food for its people, and to uphold the right of the community to determine and implement their own food system based on their own local resource potential. Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of you gathered here today. To all the delegates, I wish you a fruitful meeting and I hope this will produce beneficial results for the entire member countries of ASEAN. I wish you all great success in your deliberations, and have a pleasant and memorable stay in Yogyakarta. Thank you.