Prabowo Says Australian PM Asked to Buy Fertilizer From Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently contacted him to inquire about purchasing fertilizer from Indonesia, citing the country's growing fertilizer surplus.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 17th National Farmers and Fishermen's Week (PENAS KTNA XVII) in Gorontalo, Sulawesi, on Wednesday, June 24, Prabowo said Indonesia has begun exporting agricultural products and supporting the needs of other countries.

"Thank God, we have started exporting. We are now helping other countries," Prabowo told thousands of farmers and fishermen attending the event.

"I received a call from the Prime Minister of Australia. He expressed appreciation that Indonesia has a fertilizer surplus and asked whether we could sell fertilizer to them," he said.

Prabowo said he immediately welcomed the request.

"I said, 'Sell it. Send it to them,'" he said. "Many countries are asking for fertilizer from us. Other countries are also requesting rice and corn from Indonesia. That's fine, as long as the price is fair," he added, referring to Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman. "Our farmers must not suffer losses."

During the event, Prabowo also reiterated his administration's claim that Indonesia has achieved food self-sufficiency, particularly in rice production, within the first year of his presidency.

"I am grateful that we have achieved food self-sufficiency," Prabowo said. "We produce food, rice, corn, and nearly all major food commodities. Our rice and corn production is the highest since the founding of the country, and that is the result of the hard work of all of you."

The president thanked farmers, fishermen, and various agricultural organizations for their contributions, as well as government officials responsible for agriculture, fisheries, and food production.

Among those he acknowledged were Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Deputy Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Didit Herdiawan Ashaf, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto, and National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

Prabowo also highlighted the role of the military and police in supporting the government's food security programs.

"Only in Indonesia do the police work in agriculture," he said. "Perhaps only in Indonesia do soldiers spend time in the rice fields. Only in Indonesia does the Navy plant soybeans. Only in Indonesia does the Air Force grow sugarcane."

According to Prabowo, the involvement of security institutions in agricultural programs is a strategic effort to strengthen national resilience and support Indonesia's development goals.

"This is why Indonesia will rise," he said. "We will become a great nation."

Read: Prabowo Questions Parliament's Purpose Without Public Prosperity

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