'RI will focus its research on food, energy development'<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia, aware of the rising demand for food and energy in the
\nnext two decades, will focus its research work on food
\nmanufacturing and energy availability, a top official said on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Research and Technology M. Hatta Radjasa
\ntold reporters on the sidelines of the National Coordinating
\nMeeting on Research, Science and Technology, that the decision
\nwas taken because the areas were of the utmost importance for the
\ncountry's population of about 220 million.<\/p>\n
"It is very unreasonable for a country with a large population
\nlike Indonesia, that food is still imported in significant
\nquantities," Hatta said.<\/p>\n
He rejected the idea that "the previous research ignored food
\nmanufacturing process in the country".<\/p>\n
"Organic farming, biopesticides and new rice hybrids, in fact,
\nare also food manufacturing development."<\/p>\n
Touching on the long-term aims of the research, he said that
\nby 2017 Indonesia would increase not only its food production but
\nalso rely on nuclear power for its energy needs.<\/p>\n
When asked about the budget for the planned research, the
\nminister declined to mention the figure, saying only: "for sure,
\nresearch will consume around 60 percent of the total budget for
\nresearch and technology."<\/p>\n
Over the past eight years, the country's budget for research
\nis around 0.2 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product
\n(GDP), which in 2002 reached Rp 1,800 trillion (US$200 billion).
\nNow they are planning to increase it to at least one percent of
\nGDP in the next eight to 10 years.<\/p>\n
Although priority would be given to food and energy research,
\nother research, including in the once-famous aircraft industry,
\nwould not be ignored, he said. He blamed the lack of research in
\nthe other areas on the country's limited funds and poor education
\nstandards.<\/p>\n
Hatta also urged researchers to be innovative to produce
\nthings that supported local industry.<\/p>\n
He admitted that to boost the creativity of the researchers
\nthe government would have to also strengthen law enforcement
\nregarding piracy and violation of property rights in industrial-
\ncommercial technology.<\/p>\n
"It is important for all of us to fight piracy and increase
\nthe people's awareness of property rights, because if we keep on
\npirating products, the world will put us into a primary watch
\nlist which will eventually affect our economy badly," Hatta said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Minister of Energy Purnomo Yusgiantoro, one of the
\nkey speakers at the meeting, noted that Indonesia's potential in
\nenergy resources was proven by the fact that 40 percent of last
\nyear's total investments were staked on the energy sector.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia has large potential in the geothermal energy
\nsector. About 40 percent of the world's geothermal energy is in
\nIndonesia," Purnomo said, adding, however that "the exploration
\n(in this field) is only about one percent."<\/p>\n
He said the ministry was drafting five bills on energy this
\nyear, covering oil and gas, electricity, geothermal resources and
\nmining.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-will-focus-its-research-on-food-energy-development-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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