"Regardless of the method, our goal remains to ensure sufficient food for everyone," he said after being inducted by President Joko Widodo at the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday.
He called agricultural productivity the key to building national food security amid the dry season, the impact of El Niño, and climate change.
"Given that millions of people rely on government support, addressing this agricultural issue is crucial," he remarked.
Sudaryono said that food security needs support from government programs on food estates, irrigation, and agricultural land.
"Food estates are one of the government's policies designed with an integrated food development program to increase food reserves for the community," he explained.
He drew attention to the intensification of rain-fed agricultural land in various regions by enabling unproductive land to be used for agriculture.
"This land can be optimized and yield multiple harvests. Additionally, we have idle land outside Java that we can utilize for food production,” he explained.
He noted that millions of people in Indonesia depend on national food reserves, requiring serious attention from policymakers.
"People's need for food can't be delayed," he emphasized.
Related news: Govt backs gas supply for fertilizer industry to boost food security
Related news: Bapanas pushes sago for food security
Translator: Andi Firdaus/Yashinta Difa, Resinta S
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
