Director General of Polpum Asks Regional Heads to Implement Asta Cita Food Security

JAKARTA - Director General (Dirjen) of Politics and General Government (Polpum) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) Akmal Malik invited regional heads together with the regional secretaries to play an active role in realizing the President's Astacita, especially in the field of food security.

According to Akmal, President Prabowo Subianto pays great attention to the policy of food independence which is realized in various priority programs, such as Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), Red and White Village/Village Cooperative (KDKMP), and food self-sufficiency programs.

"The focus on food independence can be realized. How to mobilize people to realize food security. For example, encouraging young people, school students to plant one chili tree, that is already a form of implementing nationalism for national independence in the field of food," said Akmal in his statement in Jakarta, Saturday.

This was also conveyed when he opened the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) for the Synergy Implementation of General Government Affairs Programs and Activities in the Region to Support the Implementation of Presidential Priority Programs and Astacita which was held in Jakarta.

Akmal said Indonesia has great potential in the form of demographic bonuses in welcoming Indonesia Gold 2045. Therefore, this opportunity needs to be optimally utilized through the improvement of reliable human resources (HR) capacity to create national independence.

On the other hand, he reminded that Indonesia has long been known as an agrarian country, but is currently facing serious challenges due to the declining interest of young generations in the agricultural sector, amid the dominance of elderly farmers.

"I note that there are approximately 80 million school-age children ranging from junior high school to high school throughout Indonesia. My thinking is, what if these 80 million schoolchildren are given education on how to realize food security," he said.

Akmal explained that out of the total amount, if most of them are equipped with education in the food sector, the impact will be very significant. Therefore, he encouraged regional heads to innovate in designing programs for young generations in supporting food security.

He gave an example, if the chili planting program is carried out consistently, it has the potential to help control regional inflation. This is because the price of chili commodities is often a trigger for rising inflation figures.

"If we give one student the obligation to plant one chili, there will be 80 million chili stems in Indonesia. Planting and caring for chili trees is also a way to cultivate discipline and responsibility for students in their respective schools," said Akmal.

Furthermore, Akmal emphasized that the creativity and initiative of regional heads are very needed in supporting the national food security program. This is in line with the government's target that the MBG program can reach up to 82 million beneficiaries, so that the readiness of food supplies that are able to supply the needs of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) is needed.

In addition, he also emphasized the importance of regional support for the KDKMP program as an effort to stimulate the community's economy. Through the optimization of the program, it is hoped that the wheels of the economy can move and contribute to improving the welfare of the community.