In Indonesia, the National Food Agency (Bapanas) under the leadership of Arief Prasetyo Adi, is actively working towards establishing the country as a key player in the global food market, with a focus on the shallot commodity. Arief highlighted the export of shallots to Malaysia and other nations as a testament to Indonesia's capability to meet international food demands.
Exports are pursued post assurance of domestic food sufficiency, aiming to leverage Indonesia's food product potential and resources to cater to both local and global markets. Arief emphasized the ongoing efforts to promote food commodities that are in surplus domestically for international market expansion.
This vision aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency, with a goal set for realization within four years of his tenure commencing on October 20. According to Ministry of Agriculture data for 2019-2023, Indonesia's global ranking as an onion exporter improved significantly, with an annual export value averaging 9.46 million US dollars, marking a 44.87 percent increase from the previous period.
Bapanas projects Indonesia as a leading shallot producer with an annual output of 1.35 million tons, against a consumption requirement of 1.16 million tons, indicating a surplus. The country has 3.5 million agricultural households focusing on horticulture, with shallots being the most significant contributor to the vegetable category.
The export potential of shallots, particularly to Southeast Asia, is evident with Thailand being the largest importer from Indonesia in 2023, followed by a significant increase in exports to Malaysia. The Indonesian Government has also successfully maintained the Exchange Rate of Horticulture Farmers (NTPH) above 100 points, indicating a positive trend in the horticulture sector's economic performance.
Source: VOI