Agriculture Minister Suswono explained, vast rice fields in Indonesia, particularly for rice, still less than Thailand. In fact, Indonesia's population is much larger than Thailand.

Indonesian Farmers in Paddie Field

Agriculture Minister Suswono explained, vast rice fields in Indonesia, particularly for rice, still less than Thailand. In fact, Indonesia's population is much larger than Thailand.

In Thailand, the vast fields of rice has reached 9 million ha. While Indonesia is only 1.5 times that of the vast fields of rice in Thailand to reach 13-14 million ha. "Judging from the size, we did a lot more. However, to provide rice for 240 million people, the land is still less than Thailand," said Suswono in Jakarta, Thursday (01/31/2013).

It was also compounded by the number of fields per household ownership. In Thailand, the average farmer there already have 3 hectares of rice fields, while Indonesia only has 0.3 ha of rice per head. This condition causes the Indonesia still need imports.

As reported, the government through the Ministry of Commerce to import rice again. If during the government to import rice from Thailand or Vietnam, the government has to import rice from Cambodia.

The agreement was made between the Director General of Foreign Trade (U.S. $) Trade Ministry Deddy Saleh and Head of National Logistics Agency (Bulog) Sutarto Alimoeso representing the Government of Indonesia and Chairman of Green Trade Thon Virak representing the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia and Ceo Chamalay Foods Co. Ltd. Noorhisham bin Nordin in Jakarta, Thursday (01/11/2012).

Director General of Foreign Trade Ministry of Commerce Deddy Saleh explained that Cambodian rice will be used to meet the national rice stocks between 3-4 million tonnes. Rice is not all sent to Indonesia, but the stock will be made in Cambodia.

"Later Bulog can operate in Cambodia, rice does not need to be all sent to Indonesia, but there be a stock can be used for commercial (sold again) and can be taken at any time to meet the demand for rice in the country," said Deddy.

According to Deddy, in the early stages, the Cambodian government will bring in 100,000 tons of rice to the country in December 2012 and in 2013 as many as 1 million tons. This commitment came after an agreement between the Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawan and Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh on 28 August in Cambodia.

Deddy hope this cooperation can benefit both countries, the problem is not limited to import Cambodian rice to Indonesia, but also continued to export various products of Indonesia, such as manufacturing, coffee, etc to Cambodia. "So, let's bring the benefits of cooperation, Indonesia also exports manufactured goods, coffee, etc to Cambodia," he said.

To realize this cooperation, Green Trade Cambodia has took Camalay Foods Co. Ltd. as a joint venture and Schamrice (M) SDN BHD as the company is carrying out operations in the field, including the parties will set up facilities, warehouses, and the need (stock) is desired.