Minister Of Agriculture Amran Reveals The Importance Of Food Security Amid Climate-Geopolitical Change

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized the importance of food security to face the challenges of climate change and the global geopolitical crisis in order to maintain national food sustainability.

"The government is accelerating the self-sufficiency program to maintain national food security amid the threat of climate change and geopolitical crises," said Aman Sulaiman as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, December 19.

Amran emphasized that this was on the sidelines of attending the Technical Working Meeting (Rakernis) of the National Police's Security Maintenance Agency (Baharkam) in Cianjur, West Java, Wednesday, December 18.

He said that for rice, the Ministry of Agriculture collaborated with the TNI.

As for corn commodities, the Ministry of Agriculture synergizes with the Police.

"Indonesia has the potential for land for 1.2 million hectares of corn and we need to oversee this together to maintain food in the midst of various global challenges," he said.

To support the corn self-sufficiency program, the Ministry of Agriculture has prepared various production facilities, such as seeds, fertilizers, to agricultural tools and machinery (alsintan).

"We will bring Alsintan directly, such as hand tractors for farmers, then there are corn seeds for 1 million hectares throughout Indonesia," he said.

The Minister of Agriculture emphasized the importance of collaboration to make the corn self-sufficiency program a success.

"Later, the collaboration will be between Bhabinkamtibnas, Babinsa, and PPL. This collaboration is extraordinary," he concluded.

The Rakernis also signed a cooperation agreement between Baharkam and the Directorate General of Food Crops at the Ministry of Agriculture regarding security assistance and assistance to food crop commodities.

In addition, the cooperation between Baharkam and the Directorate General of Infrastructure and Agricultural Facilities of the Ministry of Agriculture regarding assistance in securing fertilizers and pesticides.

Baharkam Polri provides full support to the Ministry of Agriculture in accelerating food security programs.

One of them contributes to overseeing the increase in national corn production.

"We really support the Ministry of Agriculture's program, support the government, so that the resources of the National Police organization understand what is being done to realize food security, especially corn," said Head of Baharkam Komjen Pol Mohammad Fadil Imran.

Fadil explained that the National Police and the Ministry of Agriculture can work hand in hand as community facilitators, especially farmers in corn development.

"With the support of Polri resources that we move to the regions, the National Police has an active role as a facilitator for farmers, farmer groups, and the community in facing land challenges, providing seeds, fertilizers, and so on," he explained.

Therefore, continued Fadil, Baharkam's ranks received briefing and assistance related to corn planting governance from start to harvest.

"Friends of the police can provide briefing on corn management that can be applied in their respective working areas. The task of the National Police is to increase corn productivity. In the future we will carry out pilot projects in increasing corn production, later we will look for and map the land," said Fadil.