During the 11th National Conference of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in Jakarta on Friday, he said the initiative is part of President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to significantly increase agricultural productivity by optimizing idle land across the country.
He stressed that within the next two years, the government will focus on verified plots ready for cultivation, noting that the expansion program is essential to maintaining stable food prices as a key pillar of national resilience.
“Food security is closely linked to the resilience of the state because issues in the food sector could deal a hard blow to the country,” the minister emphasized.
Sulaiman added that the government is open to collaborating with communities, organizations, and landowners to utilize idle land for crop production.
“This offer extends to the MUI; we are ready to optimize its land. Our ministry is prepared to harness idle land belonging to MUI clerics. Just send us proposals, and we will assist with cultivation,” he told the MUI.
Expansion efforts include distributing seeds, modernizing agricultural machinery, and providing technical training to continually enhance production.
In addition, the Agriculture Ministry has prepared downstreaming measures for plantation commodities and improvements in food trade governance to ensure stable prices and sufficient supply for the public nationwide.
At the same event, MUI Chair Anwar Iskandar welcomed the initiative and emphasized the importance of building cross-sector synergy to maximize Indonesia’s abundant agricultural potential for the common good.
“The MUI views the initiative taken by the minister as a form of gratitude to God for blessing this nation with natural wealth. It is now a matter of fostering synergy and unity to optimize our resources,” he remarked.
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Translator: Aria A, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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