During a limited meeting held virtually at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday, the head of state noted that the government was currently focusing on food estate development in Central Kalimantan's Kapuas and Pulang Pisau districts as well as North Sumatra's Kumbang Hasundutan District.
"These are presently our priorities, although there are plans to further implement this. Development has begun on the field in other provinces, including Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, and South Sumatra. This is what we will be discussing after the first two can become fully operational," he remarked during the limited meeting on the continued discussion on food estate development.
Food Estate is a food development concept being applied in an integrated manner that encompasses agriculture and plantations in an area. Food estates can also become the land for national food production, reserves, storage, and distribution.
Widodo stated that the construction of food estate land is already underway in Central Kalimantan and North Sumatra. However, several obstacles persist, including that on land ownership in the area.
"This is a bit of a hurdle. However, I am confident (in the project), and I urge the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency to soon resolve this issue as it involves a vast stretch of land," he remarked.
The president highlighted the significance of building a food estate as a precautionary measure against a potential COVID-19 pandemic-induced food crisis that the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has cautioned about.
Furthermore, the government is conducting food estate development to boost food production in order to reduce imports of food commodities.
"This is also a precautionary measure against climate change and is equally important in reducing our dependence on imported foods. This is important," he reaffirmed. Related news: Ensure a smooth food supply chain nationwide: Jokowi
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Translator: Indra Arief Pribadi/Aria Cindy
Editor: Suharto
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