VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Director of seedling horticulture at the Agriculture Ministry, Sukarman, and Batang vice district head Suyono harvest garlic at Pranten village, Batang district, Central Java. (ANTARA/Kutnadi)

The Agriculture Ministry is targeting to make Indonesia self-reliant in garlic production in 2024.

“We are continuing to boost the expansion of garlic plantation and production to reduce our dependence on imports,” director of seedling horticulture at the Agriculture Ministry, Sukarman, said in Batang, Central Java, on Saturday.

Indonesia's garlic needs have reached 500 thousand tons per year, while national production currently stands at 88 thousand tons per year, he noted.

“So, we still run short (of garlic) very much. For our part, we will boost (production) through the plantation expansion program and assistance for garlic growers," he said.

In 2019, the country's garlic plantation covered an area of 12 thousand hectares, and garlic production can be increased to 102 thousand tons in 2020, he said.

To become self-reliant in garlic production and increase production by fivefold, Indonesia still needs 70 thousand hectares under garlic plantation, he said.

The area under garlic plantation will be gradually increased not only in Java, but also in Sumatra, he said.

"Production can be increased in the next four years so we can reach the target of self-reliance in garlic production," he remarked. (ANTARA)