Environmental problems threaten food security program

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 01/30/2010 9:06 PM | National

Various environmental problems have put the government’s bid to maintain food security at risk, a minister says.

Agriculture Minister Suswono said Saturday limited water supply resulting from rampant illegal logging activities and conversion of productive land into commercial use were among the major challenges facing the government in its effort to meet the national rice production target.

"We must work hard to prevent agricultural land from being affected by industrial development," he said.

The government has enacted the 2009 law on protection of agricultural land to curb conversion of rice fields the country needs to ensure its food resilience.

The national rice production this year has been set at 66 million tons, up by 3.2 percent from the 2009 mark.

Suswono urged regional governments to support the move to expand rice fields in accordance with the national food self-sufficiency program by 2014.

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