I hope this will never happen in Indonesia, and I am sure Indonesia will be able to meet its food needs sufficiently
Banyuasin, South Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Vice President Boediono has reminded Sumatra farmers that the current climate change, which is difficult to predict, threatens food resilience not only in Indonesia, but also the whole world.

The government had been paying serious attention to the agricultural sector and would do its utmost to meet the people`s needs, the vice president said when having a dialog with farmers at Banyu Urip village, Tanjung Lago sub district, Banyuasin District, South Sumatra, Friday.

Among those present on the occasion were Agriculture Minister Suswono, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, National Education Minister M Nuh, and South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin.

Boediono urged farmers and related parties to help the government secure food stocks.

"During 2011-2012, an unpredictable transitional season will occur and I call on farmers and food suppliers to help secure food stocks," he said.

The agricultural sector would become more important and strategic in the future, and not the other way around, he said.

Food shortage could disturb national security, such as what had happened in some African countries, and there was an Asian country started to experience a riot due to food shortage, he said.

"I hope this will never happen in Indonesia, and I am sure Indonesia will be able to meet its food needs sufficiently," Boediono said.

A food shortage could occur because of rapid population growth, while the food stocks did not increase, he said.

A climate change study that projected a 2.4 degree Celsius increase in temperature and massive worldwide food shortages in the next decade was seriously flawed, scientists said Wednesday (Jan 19/1).

The study was posted on the website of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was written about by numerous international news agencies, including AFP.(*)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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