Food crisis looming, warns Boediono

Vice President Boediono warns that a food crisis looms on the horizon for Indonesia, because of the country’s marginal food production.

“In general, Indonesia’s food production is now balanced with the growing population, but that is almost not enough. That’s why we’re still vulnerable to [food crisis],” Boediono said in Bone Bolango, Gorontalo, during an event held in connection with World Food Day, on Thursday.

He said Indonesia needed “serious” measures to boost its food production, given the continuous growth of the population, which is currently the world’s fourth-largest.

“Without serious, systematic measures that we must start now, it is almost certain that food security issues will continue to haunt us,” the Vice President said as quoted by Antara state news wire.

He added that given Indonesia’s abundant natural resources in both its sea and land areas, it should not have difficultly maintaining food security.

“The key is how to manage resources as best and as productively as possible.”