Amid War, Zulhas Assures Indonesia Not Dependent on Food from Middle East

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) has assured that national food resilience remains secure despite the war in the Middle East, as Indonesia does not depend on imports from that region. “There is no food that depends on the Middle East, none. What we cannot produce, like wheat, comes from Europe and America. Soybeans we don’t have, they come from Europe and America. So there is no food dependent on the Middle East,” Zulhas said after inspecting prices of essential goods at Pasar Minggu market in Jakarta on Saturday. Zulhas emphasised that the public need not worry about the impact of the Middle East war on food availability. Domestic food stocks and procurement are ensured to be safe and under control, urging the public not to engage in excessive purchasing. He added that the government is grateful for implementing food self-sufficiency policies from the outset, allowing Indonesia to be independent in food production and anticipate potential crises early. During the inspection of essential goods prices at Pasar Minggu, a trader also complained about the significant surge in plastic prices. Gemi, a 58-year-old trader, stated that the plastic price increase began around Eid al-Fitr, with a rise of about Rp6,000 per package. In response, Zulhas acknowledged that this complaint is not unique to Pasar Minggu traders but affects nearly all traders. He explained that plastic prices have skyrocketed because the raw material, plastic pellets, has also risen sharply, given that plastic is derived from petroleum. “We will invite relevant parties regarding these plastic pellets,” Zulhas said.