Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sudaryono, emphasized that food self-sufficiency is a strategic priority for the government to safeguard national sovereignty. He emphasized that all Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) programs are designed for the long-term national interest.
“Of course, the Ministry of Agriculture prioritizes the interests of the nation above personal and group interests. Therefore, the greater good cannot be defeated by a handful of people,” Sudaryono said during a conversation on RRI’s Pro3 program.
He explained that the government is simultaneously developing agricultural strategies oriented toward productivity and land expansion. Production intensification has increased significantly, and we are also implementing extensification through rice field expansion.
“We implemented rice field expansion, one example of which is in Merauke, and it was successful; the rice grew and was harvested,” he said.
The government is targeting food self-sufficiency within the next four to five years. Measured steps are being implemented through the food estate program, agricultural infrastructure development, and modernization of production equipment.
The Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, also expressed optimism that self-sufficiency in strategic commodities like sugar would be achieved in the near future. Many farmers still plant multiple varieties on the same plot, resulting in low yields.
“We are targeting a three-year replanting of sugarcane throughout Indonesia,” he said while attending the Sugarcane Harvest in Bantul, Yogyakarta.
According to him, the key to successful self-sufficiency lies in high sugarcane yields, which can only be achieved through superior varieties and a uniform planting system.
“The Ministry of Agriculture will rejuvenate sugarcane plantations nationwide on 500,000 hectares of land over the next three years,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President Director of PT Pupuk Indonesia, Rahmad Pribadi, stated that his company is ready to fully support the government’s agenda to achieve food self-sufficiency, particularly in sugar. The success of the self-sufficiency program depends not only on production but also on adequate production facilities.
“Over the past six months, we have held 92 farmer discussions in various regions. This has become a forum for exchanging information, sharing innovations, and strengthening national agricultural productivity,” said Rahmad.
He also welcomed the government’s move to simplify fertilizer regulations, which has accelerated the distribution of subsidized fertilizer to 3.9 million tons.
“This subsidized fertilizer distribution is the highest in the last three years. Food self-sufficiency is part of a major agenda to maintain national independence,” he concluded.
[w.R]
