REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia which currently exporting more non-rice food commodities, is determined to achieve food sovereignty in 2013.

"We must achieve food sovereignty," a member of parliament from Commission V, Marwan Ja'far, said on Monday.

According to Indonesia Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia exported 159.87 million tonnes of gaplek (sliced dried cassava -Ed), worth 23.64 million USD in 2009, while the export of tapioca reached 13.19 million tonnes or equal to 4.5 million USD.

In 2011, gaplek and tapioca exports reached 40.9 million tonnes and 83.15 million tonnes. BPS predicts that cassava import throughout 2012 is more than 13,300 tonnes worth 3.4 million USD.

Indonesia must have a strong policy on the production of national food to achieve food sovereignty, Ja'far said. The policy is, among others, developing infrastructure for food production, banning food imports, and making a new variety of food.

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