Indonesia Discusses Strengthening Regional Rice Reserve Management System during APTERR Forum

Indonesia proposes regional rice reserve management system strengthening in light of climate change and disaster mitigation in Asia during the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) forum held in Seoul, South Korea. The Distribution and Reserve Director at the National Food Agency, Rachmi Widiriani, stressed the importance of APTERR in ensuring regional food security during emergency situations like natural disasters and COVID-19 pandemic. Developing stronger food security and nutrition with partner countries is essential to maintain the region’s stability. Widiriani noted that APTERR can support food security in ASEAN and East Asia by facilitating trade and ensuring logistical and supply chain smoothness. In the long term, ASEAN will promote its strong food and agriculture sector, digitalization, innovative financing, climate resilience, and small-scale farmers’ capacity building. Indonesia encourages an early warning system to predict food security conditions and support APTERR’s implementation through ASEAN Food Security Information System. APTERR aims to strengthen food security, alleviate poverty, and improve nutrition without distorting normal trade to ensure food security in ASEAN Plus Three (APT) region.