Jakarta – Commander of the National Campaign Team (TKN) Bravo Tim Prabowo Gibran Communication Team, Budisatrio Djiwandono, explained that the nation’s self-sufficiency in food will be the top priority if the number 2 pair is elected to lead Indonesia. This is absolutely necessary because a food crisis is looming.
“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 already stated that food is a matter of life and death for a nation,” explained Budisatrio to reporters in Jakarta (Sunday, 1/13).
The Chairman of Commission IV of the Indonesian DPR, which oversees agriculture, food, and maritime affairs, explained that there is currently a food deficit in Indonesia due to population growth accompanied by a decrease in land productivity. He cited the crisis that has occurred in rice production.
“BPS data shows that every year our population increases by around 3 million people. And this population increase is not accompanied by an increase in cultivated land. Meanwhile, rice is consumed by almost all citizens,” he said.
Budisatrio continued that this deficit cannot be covered by relying on imports from abroad.
“Learning from the wheat incident when the war between Ukraine and Russia erupted, the supply chain was disrupted, causing the price of wheat, which was heavily dependent on imports, to skyrocket. We must not let this happen to rice, which is our main food source,” he said.
To address this issue, Prabowo Gibran targets a minimum addition of four million hectares of cultivated land in a program called the Food Barn.
“This food barn will exist from the smallest village level by farmers, to the national level by continuing the food estate program. The way to do this is by increasing the planting index, intensifying and utilizing unused land,” said Budisatrio.
“Digital technology for agriculture will also be a priority. We will create new fields and increase the productivity of existing land with digital and modern tools and technology. There is no other choice, this must be done,” he continued.
In the context of the presidential election itself, Budisatrio urged that the food crisis should be a healthy discussion because it is related to the future of the country.
“Taking sides on the issue of food should be a collective agreement. We actually look 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,” concluded Budisatrio. (SENOPATI)
Sumber: https://prabowosubianto.com/krisis-pangan-di-depan-mata-prabowo-gibran-siapkan-swasembada-lewat-program-lumbung-pangan/
