The food sector is one of the areas playing an important role in national economic growth. Hence, the utilization of digital technology to realize Indonesia’s food security is a must.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Ministry encourages the development of food cooperatives by involving women and youngsters to realize an inclusive and sustainable economy.

"The food sector is one of the areas playing an important role in national economic growth. Hence, the utilization of digital technology to realize Indonesia’s food security is a must," Cooperatives and SMEs Minister Teten Masduki emphasized during a discussion titled "Digital Cooperative Transformation" monitored here on Monday.

According to the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data in 2018, some 85.10 percent of the 33.4 million Indonesian farmers are aged 35 years or above, while only 14.89 percent of them are millennials.

To address this issue of disproportionality, the minister assessed that the implementation of digital technology will aid in increasing the participation of young people in the food sector.

He affirmed that the use of the technology in food cooperatives will facilitate them in managing lands and consolidating farmers.

In addition, members of cooperatives can get easier financing access as the application of technology can project the productivity of farmers in a better way.

Furthermore, Masduki noted that women constituted 64.5 percent of micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) actors in Indonesia.

It highlights the importance to optimize the potential and empowerment of women MSMEs to realize economic equity. One of the attempts is by consolidating women-owned or -run MSMEs into cooperatives, so they can enjoy various facilities and benefits of having cooperatives.

Hence, the digital transformation of cooperatives as well as the attempts to increase the number of women-owned or -run MSME cooperatives are the strategies to realize food security and create an equitable economy.

The minister expects all stakeholders to collaborate to realize food independence in Indonesia through the mastery, development, and application of digital technology, so that the benefits of digital economy can be enjoyed comprehensively and sustainably by the community.

Related news: KSP Chief urges scouts to participate in maintaining food security
Related news: 77th Independence Day momentum to realize food security: ID FOOD

Translator: Sugiharto Purnama, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022