E. Java visit: Yudhoyono to address farmers, discuss climate

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 01/14/2011 9:46 AM | National

During his East Java working visit on Friday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to launch the “National Farmers’ Movement to Handle Climate Anomalies”.

The official launching ceremony will take place in Lebo village, near the East Java town of Sidoarjo.

Yudhoyono is also expected to speak with local farmers and fishermen, and have a teleconference with farmers in Makassar, Samarinda and Medan.

“The President will also hear an explanation of climate anomalies by Agriculture Minister Suswono,” East Java administration spokesman Gunarto said Friday, as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Gunarto added that Yudhoyono would also witness the signing of memorandums of understanding between several institutions pertaining to measures to cope with climate anomalies.

Later on Friday, the President is scheduled to conclude his two-day visit and head back to Jakarta.

Farmers association protests rice import

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 12/23/2010 9:38 AM | National

The Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) has opposed government plans to import rice, saying Indonesia has millions of tons of rice in stock.

Previous reports said Indonesia would import between 850,000 and 1.3 million tons of rice by the end of 2010.

“The import is not necessary. The Central Statistic Agency [BPS] anticipates Indonesia will have a surplus of 8-9 million tons of rice this year,” HKTI deputy chairman Sutrisno Iwantoro said as quoted by kontan.co.id on Wednesday.

While some areas in Indonesia had rice stocks others lacked rice, he said.

“The distribution of rice is mismanaged. This needs to be improved,” he said.