100 Student Councils Nationwide Complain, Amran Immediately Acts on Illegal Fertiliser and Shallots
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Agriculture Minister/Head of the National Food Agency Amran Sulaiman received a visit from around 100 Executive Student Bodies (BEM) from across Indonesia at his private residence in Jakarta on Wednesday (6/5/2026).
The meeting served as an open forum for discussion, as well as direct absorption of various aspirations and reports from the students. In the forum, Amran admitted to immediately addressing several complaints raised by the students, even within minutes of receiving the reports.
“(There was a report regarding fertiliser distribution that harms farmers) it has already been revoked. It was revoked in just 10 minutes because it was online, and it is being processed legally. It is not allowed. Thank you to the students, this is what we expect,” said Amran when met after the meeting with BEMs from across Indonesia.
He explained that the report concerned fertiliser distribution, whose permit was immediately revoked and is being processed legally. In addition, there was a report regarding illegal shallot practices from North Sumatra that was also immediately addressed.
“There was also a student who reported illegal shallots from North Sumatra. Well, they were caught and put in prison. Can this country prosper, can it become a superpower if we allow it even once? It’s the same as breeding crime in the Republic,” he emphasised.
Amran views students as having an important role as overseers and conduits of field information. He encouraged that every finding continue to be reported.
“Certainly, since long ago (students will be the eyes of oversight). Not just in the future, since long ago students have been critical. But channel it. Report it, there was a report earlier about fertiliser shortages. Then there was the illegal one from North Sumatra, reported by the USU BEM. So we must convey it, so that we can resolve it,” he said.
In the meeting, Amran also conveyed various government programmes in the agricultural sector, including the Merah Putih Village/Urban Ward Cooperative up to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, as well as achievements that have been accomplished.
“Today we are together with student brothers and sisters from BEM across Indonesia, there are 100 representing the whole of Indonesia. We exchanged ideas. We conveyed the ideas of the President of the Republic of Indonesia and his achievements, especially in the agricultural sector,” said Amran.
He appreciated the critical yet constructive attitude of the students in providing input.
“I salute the BEM, the students present today, quite critical but constructive, not slander. Critical but constructive,” he said.
Furthermore, Amran emphasised the importance of transparency to the public, including students. He even opened access for students to directly view the condition of the national rice warehouse.
He also claimed that the current national rice stock is the highest in the history of independent Indonesia.
“Because our warehouses are full, our rice stock is the highest since independence, that’s 5.2 million tonnes, previously only 2.6 million tonnes. Warehouse capacity was only 3 million tonnes, now 5.2 million tonnes. This is extraordinary. Only one year,” he explained.
Amran also emphasised that this achievement is supported by data from national and international independent institutions.
“Those who say this is a leap in production self-sufficiency are BPS. That’s independent, then FAO, then America, United States Department of Agriculture. They are the ones saying it. Would world agricultural experts be blamed by one individual rogue? Impossible,” he concluded.