Jakarta – The Communication Team Commander of the National Campaign Team (TKN) Prabowo Gibran, Budisatrio Djiwandono, explained that the country’s self-sufficiency in food will be the top priority if the pair number two is elected to lead Indonesia. This is absolutely necessary because a food crisis is looming.
“The main sectors targeted for self-sufficiency by Prabowo Gibran are food, water, and energy. In these sectors, we must not rely on imports anymore. Specifically regarding food, Mr. Prabowo has stated that food is a matter of life and death for a nation,” explained Budisatrio to reporters in Jakarta (Sunday, 13/1).
The Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission IV, which oversees agriculture, food, and maritime affairs, explained that Indonesia is currently experiencing a food deficit due to population growth accompanied by a decrease in land productivity. He cited the crisis that occurred with rice.
“BPS data shows that our population increases by about 3 million people every year. And this population increase is not accompanied by an increase in arable land. Yet rice is consumed by almost every citizen,” he said.
Budisatrio further explained that this deficit cannot be covered by relying on imports from abroad.
“Learning from the situation with wheat when the Ukraine-Russia war broke out, the supply chain was disrupted, causing a sharp increase in the price of wheat which is heavily dependent on imports. We must not allow this to happen with rice, which is our main food,” he said.
To address this issue, Prabowo Gibran targets a minimum increase of four million hectares of arable land in a program called the Food Barn.
“This Food Barn will start from the smallest level in the villages by the farmers, up to the national level by continuing the food estate. The way to do this is by increasing crop index, intensification, and utilization of fallow land,” said Budisatrio.
“Digital technology for agriculture will also be a priority. We will create new rice fields and at the same time increase the productivity of existing land with digital and modern tools and technology. There is no other choice, this must be done,” he added.
In the context of the presidential election, Budisatrio urged that the food crisis be the subject of healthy discussions because it is related to the country’s future.
“Taking a stance on the food issue should be a common agreement. We are actually looking forward to a variety of ideas to address the food crisis from each pair of candidates. From Prabowo Gibran, it is clear that we will continue the food estate and improve it into the Food Barn,” Budisatrio concluded. (SENOPATI)
Sumber: https://prabowosubianto.com/krisis-pangan-di-depan-mata-prabowo-gibran-siapkan-swasembada-lewat-program-lumbung-pangan/
