Jakarta – Food self-sufficiency is one of the main missions of the government of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. President Prabowo is targeting Indonesia to achieve food self-sufficiency within the next three to four years by increasing the area of harvested land to four million hectares by the end of his term. With a strong commitment and cross-sectoral cooperation, the government is confident that it can achieve this goal in the near future.
Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas), expressed optimism that Indonesia can achieve food self-sufficiency by 2025.
“For so long, food has not been a top priority program. Only in the era of Mr. Prabowo has food become a top priority,” said Zulhas.
Zulhas added that President Prabowo Subianto has given a firm order for food self-sufficiency to be achieved immediately. The food sector includes various important commodities, such as rice and corn as sources of carbohydrates, as well as chicken, eggs, milk, and meat as sources of protein.
“Today, carbohydrates, rice, and corn. It is impossible for the central government to work alone, but must work together. The president is the commander, ministers, governors, regents, TNI, Polri, all parties including the media. Today as an example, if we can work closely together, without waiting long, this year we can achieve food self-sufficiency,” added Zulhas.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan), Sudaryono invited the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to strengthen the livestock industry in order to achieve food self-sufficiency, through collaboration with laying hen and beef cattle farmers, in an effort to increase meat independence in Indonesia.
“I encourage my friends at Kadin to create an effective formula or method to increase production, then marketing and so on which of course is beneficial for the community,” requested Sudaryono.
Sudaryono assessed that the role of business organizations such as Kadin is very important to meet the community’s needs for the availability of laying hens and local beef. One step that can be taken is to formulate an effective formula to increase production and marketing of livestock products.
“In the future, we from the government are ready to facilitate. So if we have knowledge, we shouldn’t keep it to ourselves,” said Sudaryono.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Animal Husbandry, Cecep MW, stated his party’s readiness to support government programs related to the development of laying hens and beef cattle. Kadin will play an active role in complementing government policies by involving investors and facilitating feed production to support Indonesia’s food independence.
“Kadin is ready to be present to complement and make the government’s programs related to laying hens and dairy cattle a success so that investors and the government are also involved. Kadin is also present to fulfill feed factories in supporting food independence and security,” said Cecep.
With support from various parties, Indonesia can immediately realize food self-sufficiency, which will increase the independence of the country’s agricultural sector. One of the strategic steps taken by the Prabowo-Gibran government is to optimize technology and innovation in the food sector. Let’s synergize to support Indonesia’s food self-sufficiency.
