“Today, we established collaboration and signed a commitment (document) to achieve self-sufficiency as soon as possible,” Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman remarked here on Thursday.
On Thursday, the ministry held a Food Self-Sufficiency Coordination Meeting with TNI AD and heads of agriculture offices in districts, cities, and provinces, both online and offline, in Jakarta to bolster readiness to realize food sovereignty.
Sulaiman highlighted that preparations for the food self-sufficiency acceleration program have been carried out by ensuring the availability of fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and field coordination across regions from Merauke, South Papua, to Aceh.
Full implementation of this program is planned to start on January 1, 2025, supported by agricultural production facilities whose delivery has been scheduled.
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The minister further remarked that collaboration for the program involves various elements, including the TNI AD for assisting the rice program and the National Police for assisting the corn program, as a strategic step in strengthening Indonesia's agricultural sector.
"Then, the BWS (River Basin Office of the Ministry of Public Works) started working from now," he added.
In addition, Sulaiman noted that the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions provides support for the horticulture sector.
Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Tandyo Budi Revita expressed readiness to support the food self-sufficiency acceleration program.
He affirmed that all army personnel are ready to assist the program to achieve the food self-sufficiency target.
He remarked that one of the strategic steps in the synergy is to maximize existing rice fields. Harvests in agricultural lands that were earlier only conducted twice annually will be pursued to be increased to three to four harvests per year.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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