Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin on Thursday urged all community elements — from neighborhood and community units to government employees — to support national food security efforts and strengthen the agricultural sector amid limited land availability.
"Makassar is an urban area where the demand from high population growth is constant. As a result, many agricultural lands have had to give way to development," he said.
He noted that rice demand in the city has continued to rise alongside its growing population, which is currently estimated at 1.4 million.
While the city's monthly rice needs are around 10 to 11 tons, the remaining available farmland spans between 1,300 and 1,400 hectares.
Arifuddin called for collaboration between farmers, universities, and the Ministry of Agriculture to maximize the use of agricultural technology to address this gap. Considering the limited land, there is a need to fully utilize technology to boost production capacity, he stressed.
"I hope the Faculty of Agriculture and senior agricultural experts will continue to provide guidance," he said.
Arifuddin acknowledged that conventional farming methods are still preferred by local farmer groups.
Looking ahead, he emphasized the importance of involving the younger generation, particularly in Biringkanaya sub-district, in adopting digitalization and modern agricultural technologies.
Referring to the national self-sufficiency program, part of President Prabowo Subianto's Asta Cita (eight main missions), he said the Ministry of Agriculture is actively developing and opening new rice fields to reduce dependence on rice imports.
"I hope our farmers are willing to keep learning and improving their production capacity. Rice is our staple food, so every available plot must be put to good use," he added.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Anton Santoso
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