President Megawati concerned over rice shortage
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java
President Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed concern over the country's inability to regain its status as a nation self- sufficient in rice.
Speaking before thousands of farmers here on Friday, Megawati said Indonesia should learn from China on how the world's most populous country applied agricultural technology to meet its demand for rice.
"I feel annoyed because our country, with around 200 million people, is unable to fulfill its own need for rice, while China, with 1.2 billion people, is able to export it," the President said in an off-the-cuff statement during Corn Day at the Bogor Presidential Palace.
"I am so embarrassed, but I hope we can quickly cater for our rice demand."
Megawati recently visited China.
Indonesia, whose population mostly lives in villages, has been striving to meet its demand for rice, despite the government's persistent campaign for an alternative staple food.
During former president Soeharto's administration, the Food and Agriculture Organization declared Indonesia a food self- sufficient country in 1984. The achievement proved to be short- lived.
Currently, Indonesia imports rice from Thailand, Vietnam and China to fulfill its increasing demand.
Megawati underlined the urgency of cooperation between the government, farmers and other organizations to secure rice production.
"Such a ceremonial event like this will not help, as I have learned that people do nothing as soon as I have left them and that most government officials only sit behind their desks and are reluctant to monitor the actual situation," she said.
During the celebration the President introduced corn as an alternative to replace rice.
Megawati also named a new variety of corn, NKRI, which stands for the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia.
"What we have to be aware of is that good seeds will ensure a good harvest despite infertile land. But bad seeds on good land will not yield anything," Megawati said.
The President was not scheduled to deliver a speech, but Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih and Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Union (HKTI) Siswono Yudhohusodo managed to persuade her to do so.
Earlier on Friday, State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Chief Widjanarko Puspoyo, after meeting the President, unveiled the government's plan to exchange airplanes, train wagons and fertilizer for rice in anticipation of the possibility of a rice shortage in early 2003.
Speaking at the State Palace, Widjanarko said the deal would be made with Thailand, which had agreed to exchange 200,000 tons of rice for airplanes, train wagons or fertilizer, worth US$40 million. Another deal will be concluded with Cambodia, involving 50,000 tons of rice.
The imported rice will enter the country in the last three months of 2002.