DPD Speaker Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin emphasized that the state is responsible for ensuring adequate food for citizens, since food security is vital to the quality of human resources, social stability, and the national economy.
"We take inspiration from people’s aspirations in regions regarding food availability and affordability. These concerns are what we heed and translate into a national movement," he said.
In Indonesia, the term "regions" typically refers to provinces, districts, or cities outside the Greater Jakarta area.
Najamudin noted that the program would begin with the planting of corn seeds in several pilot regions, including Bengkulu, East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Central Papua.
"The main goal is to empower residents in regions, shifting them from being mere consumers to producers of competitive food commodities. We aim to make Bengkulu a model of how a region can sustain national food security, setting an example for others," he elaborated.
The senator added that the scope of the program wound gradually expand to cover all 38 provinces by 2029.
He then underlined that the initiative aligns with one of President Prabowo’s eight primary missions, collectively known as the Asta Cita, which calls for self-sufficiency in food, energy, and water.
The food security agenda is also enshrined in the 2025–2045 National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN), consistent with the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision, he said.
Further stressing the program’s significance, Najamudin remarked that it could help Indonesia withstand the impacts of global challenges on its food sector.
"Food security is not just about the availability of rice or corn -- it is also about our resilience in the face of global issues. This perspective has prompted the DPD to initiate this program," he emphasized.
He also reiterated the DPD’s commitment to making food security a focus in all its activities.
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Translator: Bagus A, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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