Jakarta – Commander of the Bravo National Campaign Team Communication Team (TKN) Prabowo Gibran, Budisatrio Djiwandono explained that the nation’s food independence would be the top priority if the number 2 pair was elected to lead Indonesia. This is absolutely necessary because a food crisis is imminent.
“The main sector targeted for self-sufficiency by Prabowo Gibran is food, water, and energy. In this sector, we must not depend on imports anymore. Especially 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 there is currently a food deficit in Indonesia due to the increase in population accompanied by a decrease in land productivity. He cited the crisis that occurred with rice.
“BPS data shows that our population increases by around 3 million people every year. And this increase in population is not accompanied by an increase in agricultural land. However, rice is consumed by almost all citizens,” he said.
Budisatrio continued, the deficit cannot be covered by relying on imports from abroad.
“Learning from the incident with wheat when the Ukraine-Russia war broke out, the supply chain was disrupted, causing our heavily import-dependent wheat prices to soar. We must not let this happen to rice, which is our staple food,” he said.
To address this, Prabowo Gibran targets an increase of at least four million hectares of agricultural land in a program called the Food Barn.
“This food barn will start from the smallest level in the village by the farmers, up to the national level by continuing the food estate. The way to do it is by increasing the planting index, intensifying and utilizing abandoned land,” Budisatrio said.
“Digital technology for agriculture will also be a priority. We will create new rice fields, as well as 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 itself, Budisatrio urged that the food crisis be discussed as a healthy idea because it is related to the future of the country.
“Taking sides on the issue of food should be a collective agreement. We look forward to a variety of ideas to face 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/
