REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By Andi Abdussalam

The Indonesian government has set a food production target, particularly for rice, the country's main staple, in anticipation of likely influx of food imports this year.

Agriculture Minister Suswono has forecast that global food production will increase this year amid an improving global agricultural climate. The increase in the production of food commodities will drive down food prices in the global market and will boost the import of food products to Indonesia.

In line with the predictions of increased food production, the government has set a food production target, which can meet domestic needs, particularly rice.

With a population of about 240 million, the domestic rice consumption is expected to reach 31 million tons. This is based on the estimates from the Food Hope Pattern (PPH) concept, where Indonesia's current rice consumption has reached 129 kg per capita per year.

For the current year, the government has set the unhulled rice production target at 76.57 million tons. If the water content of unhusked rice is between 18 and 25 percent, the 76.57 million tons of unhulled dry rice are equivalent to 42 million tons of rice.

This means that if the target is achieved this year, the government's target to have a surplus in rice production of 10 million tons in 2014, will also be met.

During the recently held World Food Day commemoration in Bukit Tinggi, West Java, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced an action plan in the food production sector called the Bukit Tinggi Action Plan.

The declaration of the action plan reflected the Indonesian government's resolve to boost its food production in an effort to achieve its food self-sufficiency target in 2014. Through the implementation of the Bukit Tinggi Action Plan, the government has set the country's production target for the year 2014.

The target for maize production is set at 20.82 million tons, up 12.48 percent from 18.51 million tons in 2013. The government also set the country's rice production target at 76.57 million tons, up 8.04 percent from 70.877 million tons in 2013, soybean 1.5 million tons, up 85 percent from 0.81 million tons in 2013, sugar 3.10 million tons, up 22.05 percent from 2.54 million tons in 2013, and beef 0.53 million tons, up 23.26 percent from 0.43 million tons in 2013.

It is forecast that the implementation of the Bukit Tinggi Action Plan will require Rp66.9 trillion funds, excluding the funds for fertilizers and seeds.

Minister Suswono stated that in 2014, the world's stocks of food commodities such as rice, maize, soybean, and wheat are forecast to increase at a rate of 1.4 percent for wheat and 10.1 percent for rice.

"Such an increase will ensure the world's food stocks in 2014. The food stocks will be relatively secure with reserves between 15.8 percent and 25.4 percent of the total production. It has the potential to drive down the prices of food commodities entering Indonesia," he stated on Tuesday, while addressing the opening of a national working meeting on the development of the agricultural sector in 2014.

The trends in world food stocks indicate that food production in 2014 will be very competitive, though in various aspects, the conditions will be conducive and provide opportunities for the Indonesian agricultural sector.

After all, the global agricultural climatic conditions are predicted to be normal this year.

With regard to the global agricultural conditions, Indonesia has to increase its competitiveness by building agricultural efficiency and productivity. The competitiveness is needed to face the influx of food imports from other countries.

"The decline in the prices of food commodities globally, offers an opportunity for parties interested in importing foods into the country," he pointed out.

The minister added that domestic production, must therefore, match domestic consumption, in order to reduce food imports.

"If the food production targets are achieved, we predict that the nation's main food requirements will be met by domestic production," the minister claimed.

"However, we can still import meat, soybean, and sugar, though, not in large volumes," he added. The government will also boost the domestic production of shallots and chili, so that the prices of these commodities in the domestic market will remain stable.

In an effort to increase food production, Indonesia continues to conduct scientific research on the development of high-yield food crop varieties to boost food production in the country.

Earlier, Research and Technology Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta remarked that nuclear technology had been developed for use in various fields including agriculture, health, energy, and animal husbandry.

The National Atomic Energy Agency (BATAN) has been conducting research to utilize nuclear technology in various sectors, including the agricultural sector, such as in soybean cultivation.

Currently, BATAN has developed eight high-yield varieties of soybean, which are superior in productivity and quality.

Earlier, last December, the Isotope and Radiation Technology Application Center (PATIR) of BATAN launched two high-yield soybean varieties called Gamasugen 1 and Gamasugen 2.

PATIR Chief Hendig Winarno noted that the varieties were developed through breeding of plants with gamma ray radiation mutation techniques.

The process of radiation on soybean was conducted on the first generation, followed by the process of selection, refining, and finally, quality testing.

"The superiority of the varieties will be known after testing is conducted up to the 10th generation and seeding," Hendig added.

Adaptation tests across 16 locations in different seasons, such as dry and rainy, show that Gamasugen will be ready for harvest in 66-68 days, faster than an average of 73 days for other varieties.

It is also superior in productivity, with production averaging 2.4 - 2.6 tons per hectare and resistant to diseases and pests, he pointed out.

"Gamasugen soybean curd and cake have a higher protein content and are tastier than the curd and cake manufactured using imported soybean," he claimed.

BATAN Chief Djarot Wisnubroto emphasized that nuclear technology has been applied for food by BATAN, such as in producing high-yield, pest-free paddy seeds through nuclear irradiation.

He added that the seeds, after being treated with nuclear irradiation, show higher productivity, yielding up to ten tons of unhulled rice per hectare, he noted.

"Nuclear technology is also used for the preservation of fruits and vegetables, and in the exploration of underground water resources that can be used for irrigation and human consumption," he added.

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