Bogor (Antara) - The association of alumna of the Bogor Agriculture Institute (IPB) said it was against policy of importing farm products.
The association will continue to warn of the importance of food security and relying on domestic farm products, Bambang Hendroyono, the new chairman of the association said here on Sunday.
Bambang Hendroyono, who is director general of forestry business development at the forestry ministry, expressed concern with the country's high dependence on imports for certain farm products.
He said imports of farm products will hurt Indonesian farmers.
"Imports of vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat hurt the Indonesian farmers as whatever the reason, imports would weaken the motivation of the farmers to produce farm commodities," he said.
According to the Central Statistic Agency (BPS) the country imported 239,000 tons worth US$124.4 million of rice and 1.3 million tons of cron valued at US$393 million in the first six months of the year.
In the same period, the country also imported 826,000 tons of soybean valued at US$509.5 million, 82,501 tons valued at US$36.9 million of wheat flour and 923,000 tons val;ued at US$43.1 million of salt.
Bambang said it is ironical that Indonesia, which has the largest number of agriculturists with its institution of IPB, has to be dependent on imports for farm products.
He calls on the government to improve the quality of Indonesian farmers and farm infrastructure.
The country's agriculture needs support from the industrial sector and strong policy, he said.
IPB Alumnus Oppose Imports of Agricultural Products
Minggu, 18 Agustus 2013 19:52 WIB
"Imports of vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat hurt the Indonesian farmers as whatever the reason, imports would weaken the motivation of the farmers to produce farm commodities,"