3 Years of Rice Self-Sufficiency, Indonesia Receives IRRI Award

TheIndonesia.id - Indonesia received an award from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for its success which is considered to be achieving self-sufficiency in rice and improving the food security system well.

"We are happy to be here to celebrate Indonesia's achievements in the agriculture sector," said IRRI Director General Jean Balie when presenting the award at the State Palace, Jakarta, Sunday, August 14, 2022.

Balie said Indonesia's achievement was a big step to create national food security, especially amid global geopolitical conditions. IRRI is committed to working together in the long term to strengthen the food security system in Indonesia.

"On this occasion, I would like to hand over a plaque to President Jokowi as a form of recognition and congratulations on Indonesia's success in achieving rice self-sufficiency and improving the national food security system," he said.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo in his speech said that since 2015 Indonesia has built many dams, rainwater reservoirs or reservoirs, and irrigation networks. Until now, the Government has inaugurated 29 large dams and the number will increase to reach 38 dams by the end of 2022.

Then, by 2024 the Government targets 61 more dams to be inaugurated. The government has built 4,500 dams and 1.1 million irrigation networks in the last seven years.

According to Jokowi, the use of various superior rice varieties, intensification, and extensification have increased current production. As a result, Jokowi said, from 2019 to 2021, Indonesia consistently produced rice at 31.3 million tons per year; and in the last three years, Indonesia has not imported rice.

"This improvement and consistency are what I see, FAO sees, IRRI sees; because it is a real number. This is why today we are given a certificate that Indonesia is considered to have a good food security system and is food self-sufficient," he said.

Jokowi also thanked Indonesian farmers, local governments, and the Ministry of Agriculture for their hard work and research. Jokowi stressed that hard work must continue to be encouraged so that Indonesia can not only produce food for the country but also enter the export market.