Bapanas states strong reserves safeguard food security from climate crisis

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has affirmed that food reserves serve as the cornerstone of a region’s food security in facing extreme climate threats. “These food reserves will become the cornerstone of a region’s food security, reflecting whether it tends to be more resilient or vulnerable when production disruptions, floods, or crop failures occur,” said Bapanas Director of Food Insecurity Control Sri Nuryanti during the online Dissemination of Climate-Resilient Food Innovations event in Jakarta on Monday. In addition to production issues, she explained that disruptions can also occur in the distribution chain, such as when access roads or bridges are cut off, hindering supplies from production centres to main markets. Therefore, Bapanas is encouraging the strengthening of buffer stocks, both in the form of rice and other local food commodities, as an essential adaptation measure. “The function of these food reserves is to ensure that the availability, affordability, and utilisation of food remain sustainable and stable,” she stated. Sri emphasised that the existence of food reserves reflects a region’s resilience against all potential disruptions, primarily due to the extreme climate change threats currently affecting Indonesia and globally. “Thus, if we have strong reserves, our food security will not be easily disrupted by either production or distribution issues,” said Sri Nuryanti. Previously, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman guaranteed rice stocks amid drought threats from the predicted El Nino phenomenon this year. Minister Amran stated that the national rice stock is currently in the safest condition in the history of the Republic of Indonesia, with reserves sufficient to meet needs for the next 10 months. “Our stock, reserves in Bulog warehouses and in the field, is enough for the next 10 months. If from March this year, then until December it will be sufficient. I repeat, our stock today is enough for the next 10 months,” said Minister Amran.