JAKARTA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving soybean self-sufficiency, with the government expanding cooperation between the defense and agriculture sectors to boost domestic production.
Speaking during a soybean harvest in North Lampung, Lampung Province, on Wednesday, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said that the government aims to end reliance on soybean imports and make Indonesia a soybean exporter within the next two to three years.
"The 30 hectares of land owned by the Indonesian Navy produced around 60 tons of soybeans, which is initial evidence of the success of the national soybean self-sufficiency program," he noted.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said the government would purchase the entire harvest and expand soybean planting to 10,000 hectares. ■