REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DEPOK – The Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture fully supports the Depok local government program to implement ‘One day without rice’ as the program enable us to reduce rice consumption and substitute it with tubers. “The rice consumption in Southeast Asia is still high,” the Minister of Agriculture, Suswono, said on Tuesday.
The consumption in Indonesia is 316 gram per capita per day, while 275 gram per capita per day is sufficient. On the other hand, the consumption of tuber is only 40 gram per capita per day while the ideal number is 100 gram.
“Many Indonesians are overweight and Indonesia is number for in the world for diabetic disease,” Suswono said.
Most of Indonesian feels that meal without rice is not considered as meal. Indonesia need in rice reach 2.7-2.8 tonnes per month.
Indonesia produces 37 million tonnes per year to fulfill the need of more than 247 million people. However, Thailand produces 20 million tonnes rice per year and then export the remaining rice product.
“Indonesian people are three times higher than Thailand and our product surplus is only 3-4 million tonnes. In 2014, it will be 10 million tonnes,” Suswono said.
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