The collaboration was marked by the signing of memorandums of understanding between PDT Minister Yandri Susanto, commander of the TNI, General Agus Subiyanto, and BGN head Dadan Hindayana at the minister's office in Jakarta on Monday.
Susanto informed that the TNI has agreed to support his ministry's tasks by mobilizing village supervisory non-commissioned officers (Babinsa) to assist rural residents in solidifying food security.
"We acknowledge the pivotal role Babinsa played in the military's rural development program. With this agreement, we aim to step up our cooperation, with a special focus on food security," he said.
The minister reiterated that the government has decided to ask village governments to allocate a minimum of 20 percent of village funds for food security-oriented initiatives.
Outlining his deal with the BGN, he underlined that it is intended to support President Prabowo Subianto's determination to provide nutritious food to the people.
Under the agreement, the PDT Ministry and BGN will empower village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) as suppliers of materials and ingredients for the Free Nutritious Meals program.
"We will optimize villages according to their main produce, such as eggs, chicken meat, vegetables, fish, and others. Such an approach will help create a solid supply chain for the Free Nutritious Meals program," he explained.
The minister then expressed his commitment to establishing cooperation with other reliable parties to make sure that rural development initiatives are directed toward the equitable economy and poverty alleviation goals.
"Our collaboration is a means to actualize President Prabowo's Asta Cita mission number 6: developing Indonesia from villages," he added.
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Translator: Tri M, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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