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Govt to cut garlic imports by 40 percent next year
The Agriculture Ministry plans to reduce garlic imports next year by around 40 percent to encourage domestic production.
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A trader holds (clockwise from left) shallots, a bulb of garlic and a yellow onion on June 27, 2022 at Mandonga Market in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi. (Antara/Jojon)
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n an effort to encourage domestic production, the Agriculture Ministry plans to reduce garlic imports next year by roughly 40 percent.
National Food Agency (NFA) head Arief Prasetyo Adi said the horticultural product import recommendations (RIPH) for 2024 would limit the volume of imported garlic to a maximum of 650,000 tonnes.
That amount was based on the nationwide need, which was only 600,000 to 620,000 tonnes, he said on Tuesday, CNBC Indonesia reported.
Arief vowed that the government would ensure transparency with regard granting the RIPH license for importing garlic, including details on the recommended importers the Agriculture Ministry put forth.
This commitment to transparency aimed to avoid any suspicions that the Agriculture Ministry was biased in its recommendations, he underlined.
“The other day, there were claims that [only] one or two importers are recommended, right? The [horticulture] director general has data that there are around 140 [importers],” said Arief.
“Some people tend to voice their [uninformed] opinion, and that’s why we will communicate to the public that there is no such manipulation within the Agriculture Ministry,” he said.
