Slamet Budijanto, Food Science and Technology Expert:
Let Them Eat Nasi Aruk!

Soon after Joko Widodo was elected president, he declared food self-sufficiency to be one of his priorities. Tens of thousands of tractors were bought and distributed to farmers and a large budget was allocated to subsidize seeds and fertilizers. Indonesia is one of the world's top rice consuming country and a net importer of the staple. The President stressed that the nation must achieve food security within three years.

Slamet Budijanto, an expert in food science and technology from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) maintains that we should pay more attention to the diverse food sources available in the country and rely less on rice. Budijanto spoke to Nabiha Shahab from Tempo English on how Indonesia can achieve food self-sufficiency. Excerpts:

January 26, 2016