“Our plan is to expand food self-sufficiency efforts to wheat, as instructed by President Prabowo Subianto,” he remarked during a visit to Sungai Penuh City, Jambi, on Thursday.
Sulaiman highlighted that the Ministry of Agriculture had identified wheat as a strategic commodity requiring intensive efforts to cultivate in Indonesia due to the country’s tropical climate. Therefore, the ministry has sent delegations to Jordan and Brazil to study the relationship between agriculture and climate.
Furthermore, the agriculture minister has formed strategic partnerships with domestic stakeholders, including the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), higher education institutions, and industries, to advance wheat production ambitions.
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Regarding the pilot project, Sulaiman hinted at the possibility of executing it in Kerinci District, which is located over 800 meters above sea level, offering a potentially suitable environment for wheat cultivation.
He stated that the Ministry of Agriculture would collaborate with the Jambi provincial government by dispatching field teams to follow up on the plan, which is set to be implemented on 200 hectares of land in the province.
Similar projects are expected to follow in areas across the provinces of Bengkulu, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, and Riau, he added.
Furthermore, the minister highlighted plans to import wheat seeds from Brazil to support the plan, which aims to produce 20 tons of wheat.
“Hopefully, this project will be a historic legacy for Indonesia,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Jambi Governor Al Haris welcomed the pilot project, confirming that Kerinci offers a promising environment for wheat cultivation owing to its high altitude.
“If the pilot project succeeds, Jambi will be known as the pioneer of wheat production in Indonesia,” he remarked.
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Translator: Agus S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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