Strengthen Food Security, ID Food Together With Kostrad Harvest And Planting Padi Phase II Cultivation In Strategic Land

JAKARTA - In order to support the increase in national rice production, the Food SOE ID Food Holding collaborated with the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) through the development of rice cultivation on the Kostrad Food Security area located in the PT Sang Hyang Seri (SHS) Sukamandi area, Subang. This collaboration has resulted in production marked by joint harvest and planting for 2nd phase cultivation.

This was stated by the President Director of ID Food Frans Marganda Tambunan after carrying out the 2nd Stage of Harvesting and Planting, Thursday, April 18, in Sukamandi, Subang. According to him, the collaboration between SOEs and the TNI shows a joint commitment between stakeholders to support the National Food Security movement.

"Today the ID Food Group together with the Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) and the Kostrad Commander (Pangkostrad) carried out a joint harvest of rice cultivation on the Kostrad Food Security area located in the SHS strategic area. This is a good form of collaboration to support government programs in maintaining food security," he said.

This joint harvest is the result of a rice cultivation cooperation that started in early January in an area of 31.05 hectares in Blocks S 14 and S 15. At the harvest, it is known that the productivity obtained can reach 8 tons/ha. Furthermore, for the absorption of the harvest, cooperation is carried out with Pro Pak Tani and the TNI AD, in this case Kostrad.

"Panen together we do through mechanization mechanisms. The varieties used in cultivation this time are Inpari 32," he explained.

Frans added, as a form of continued cooperation and as well as in order to increase production, after the harvest together, the second phase of rice cultivation was immediately carried out. After our harvest with the Army Chief of Staff and Kostrad, we immediately carried out planting together with the second phase of rice cultivation. This also marks the start of advanced empowerment which is expected to produce higher production and productivity," he explained.

Meanwhile, Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak said this collaboration was part of the Food Security Program (Hanpangan) carried out by the Indonesian Army to assist the government in reducing rice imports and other food commodities. In addition, this step is also a follow-up to the President of the Republic of Indonesia's order to help the welfare of the community by optimizing vacant lands to plant food crops.

"This rice harvest activity is a tangible manifestation of TNI AD soldiers in managing agricultural lands in the region. The ranks of the Indonesian Army are working with all stakeholders in the region to make the government's program a success in anticipating the occurrence of a food crisis," he said.

Also attending the activity was the Commander of Kostrad (Pangkostrad) Lt. Gen. Muhammad Saleh Mustafa, President Director of SHS Adhi Cahyono Nugroho, and PJ Regent of Subang. The event ended with the distribution of love ties to farmers, farmer groups and orphans. The synergy of this rice cultivation is a follow-up to the Cooperation Agreement between SHS and Kostrad concerning Strengthening Territorial Development and Asset Security in SHS environment.

Meanwhile, SHS Adhi President Director Cahyono Nugroho said, in addition to increasing the shared enthusiasm in realizing national food security, the cooperation between the Food SOE Holding through SHS and Kostrad also aims to optimize and secure SHS agricultural land in Sukamandi.

The 3,165 Ha Sukamandi agricultural land currently owned by SHS is one of the important assets owned by the state to support food security. The location of this agricultural land is also very strategic because it is approximately only 100 km from the city of Jakarta, with good forms of stretch and irrigation support, making it easier to cultivate rice, both rice and seeds," he said.

SHS saat ini telah melakukan sejumlah upaya untuk mentransform lahan Sukamandi, di antaranya melakukan perbaikan kegiatan budaya (teknik budaya dan aram tanam), pembijaan teknis kepada para mitra petani yang dilakukan oleh pembina wilayah, melakukan off take hasil panen dengan mekanisme one day payment, melakukan evaluasi kepada mitra petani dan ketua kelompok petani agar melakukan budaya lebih efektif dan efisien dan produktif.

"We are also actively collaborating with strategic partners to develop rice cultivation in Sukamandi land as we are currently doing with Kostrad. Previously, we had also collaborated on cultivation and development of agricultural technology with BRIN, Ministry of Agriculture, Bapanas, and Corporate Partners," he said.

Adhi said that SHS also continues to encourage increased agricultural mechanization on Sukamandi land, by procuring 2 combine developers and 4 tractor units that can be used by farmer partners and cooperative partners who carry out cultivation cooperation on SHS land.

"In addition, SHS has also committed to cooperation with several parties including Perum BULOG, PT Sterling Agritech Indonesia, Perpadi, and Biocycle in an effort to increase productivity of Sukamandi's land harvest through the development and utilization of innovation and agricultural technology. In terms of fertilization, SHS will immediately cooperate with PIHC in providing non-subsidized fertilizers for farmer partners who cultivate on SHS land," he explained.

To keep the agricultural process on SHS land running optimally, Adhi has also ensured that the irrigation canal to SHS land in Sukamandi runs well throughout the season.