Indoneserne vil selve bestemme kosten
JAKARTA, 17 February 2012 (IRIN): Indonesia’s attempt to wean its population off (vænne af med at spise) rice has been hampered by a lack of viable alternative staples (grundnæringsmidler) and cultural attachment to the grain.
Following record-high food prices in 2008, the government launched a national campaign in 2009 to reduce rice consumption by encouraging citizens to go one day a week without rice; all 33 provinces were called on to boost non-rice crop production.
But experts say the drive has had limited success.
– The government should pay attention to farmers, giving them guarantees that they will benefit from growing crops like cassava. Right now there’s no fertilizer or seed subsidy, no price certainty or guarantee who will buy the [non-rice] products, Mulyono Makmur, an adviser to Indonesia’s agriculture minister, told IRIN.
The State Logistics Agency guarantees rice prices by paying a “government purchase price” and distributing subsidized rice to the poor.
Rice production still far outstrips other crops, with the country producing 37 million tons in 2011, with palm oil, natural rubber, coconuts and cassava trailing far behind, according to the government.
– If we diversify our diets (varierer vor kost) by including local crops such as sweet potato, corn and cassava, any increase in food prices will not severely affect food security, said Makmur.
The Asian Development Bank warned earlier this month that Southeast Asia should be prepared for a possible rise in food prices.
Indonesians on average consume 113 kg of mostly white rice annually, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.
This is a drop from 139 kg in 2010 but is still high, said Makmur, citing averages in Malaysia and Japan of 80 kg and 60 kg, respectively.
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