"In 2022, some 20 percent of the Village Fund is utilized for food security, that is Rp13.6 trillion," he noted during the "Village Fund Handles Inflation and Food Crisis" press conference participated online, on Friday.
"The remaining Rp5 trillion that has not been utilized for food security is the minimum threshold," he remarked.
He urged village instruments to actively utilize the Village Fund to maintain food security at the level of villages.
"I think that there is still some time and that the utilization of village fund can still exceed the existing ceiling," the minister remarked.
Iskandar's ministry has issued the Village Minister's Decision 82 of 2022 on Food Security in the Village Guideline.
The goal of food security in the village is to increase food availability both from the villagers' production and from village food barns.
"These village food barns become our focus to anticipate various possibilities, including extreme climate change. Since it is the rule of nature, we have to anticipate it early," he explained.
The other goal involves improving food affordability for villages.
Moreover, it aims to improve the consumption of foods that are diverse, safe, clean, have balanced nutrition, possess good quality, do not violate religious teaching, beliefs, and cultures, as well as originated from local resources.
Food security activities in villages come in the form of infrastructure at the food security location, social aid to farmers, empowerment of farmers, and additional capital for Village-Owned Enterprises' (BUMDes') food security business unit.
Currently, 16,155 BUMDes have food business units, with 100,911 manpower absorbed.
"Meanwhile, the turnover for food BUMDes within the last year stood at Rp990.5 billion," the minister stated.
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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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