House of Representatives Urges Ministry of Agriculture to Honest on Food Data

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - Member of Commission IV of the House of Representatives Ichsan Firdaus asked the Ministry of Agriculture to be honest about the food data related to the synchronization of the phenomenon of rising rice prices amid the surplus claims of the ministry.

"My advice is to be honest with the data, and there should be no acrobatics that create unfinished 'ghosts'," he said in a discussion of the Center for Food and Advocacy Studies (Pataka) entitled "Easy to Play Food Data" in Jakarta, Thursday (18/1 / 2018)

Ichsan explained, when there is rice price volatility and import policy, there is always a "ghost" who roamed in the matter.

Ghosts in question are claims of surplus, speculators and rice mafia. According to Golkar Party politician, the problem often arises but there has been no government effort to overcome it, especially related to speculators.

As a commission that oversees the sector, Ichsan expressed disappointment with the performance of agricultural production because the agricultural budget is also quite large.

"If we talk about production, we use Rp20 trillion to Rp30 trillion for agriculture, the value is even bigger than 2009-2014 period, but the result is like this," he said.

Ichsan also mentioned the debate over who should release the food data instead shows no coordination among the government.

"At least do not say something that should not have to be delivered," he said.

Ichsan added there are fears of the problem of politicized rice because this year is the political year.

He asked for a rice-related polemic to be resolved soon. The uncertainty of food data leaves the public in confusion amid the continuing skyrocketing rice prices.

The government decided to import 500 thousand tons of special rice from Thailand and Vietnam to strengthen the stock. While the Ministry of Agriculture claims rice stocks are surplus and there is no price increase. (Ant)