Agriculture Minister urges public to actively verify national food data

Sidoarjo, East Java (ANTARA) - Indonesian Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has urged the public to play an active role in verifying national food data to enhance public trust in the government.

“Please feel free to actively participate in direct checks. Today, national rice stocks stand at 4.9 million tonnes,” said Amran during his visit to the Bulog Banjar Kemantren Warehouse in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Sunday.

Amran stated that the public can monitor data from Bulog, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), all of which are credible sources.

During the visit, he appreciated Bulog East Java’s initiative in involving community representatives from student groups, lecturers, and youth organisations to join in checking local rice stocks.

Amran noted that data as of today shows national rice stocks at 4.9 million tonnes, predicted to reach five million tonnes by mid-next week.

He assessed that with such stock levels, national food security in facing the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon is in a strong position.

Additionally, Amran explained that food availability from other sectors, such as the food and hospitality industry, totals 12.5 million tonnes, accompanied by 11 million tonnes from standing crops.

“I am proud of the presence of community elements, so there can be a second opinion and direct cross-checks by the public on the available national food data,” he said.

He also expressed readiness to open doors for transparency on this availability through inter-agency communication to ensure public involvement in national food security.