Vice President Encourages Feed Factory In Banten To Absorb Local Corn Farmers' Harvest

Vice President (Vice President) Gibran Rakabuming Raka planted corn simultaneously in Bantar Panjang Village, Tigaraksa Tangerang Regency, Banten. (ANTARA/Azmi Samsul M)

JAKARTA - Vice President (Vice President) Gibran Rakabuming Raka encourages the animal feed factory in the Banten Province to be off taker or absorber of corn farmers' crops in the area.

"In Banten, there are a lot of factories. Livestock factories, many independent breeders. So there is already an industry that accommodates corn planted," said Gibran in Tangerang, Wednesday, which was confiscated by Antara.

According to him, this agricultural harvest absorbing or off taker is a challenge for the future that the government needs to intervene.

Therefore, he asked all relevant institutions and ministries as well as regional heads to help increase the absorption of the crops.

Gibran also said that the current condition of the quality of the farmers' harvest is still below the standard, both in terms of quantity and quality. The problems faced by the farmers include water problems, seed prices and fertilizers, and limited agricultural equipment to become a common concern to find solutions.

"So I beg you to always provide assistance, training, provide access, and I believe this can be resolved if all of this is done," he said.

He asked the relevant ministries and regional heads to continue to innovate in terms of welfare for farmers. Starting from technology development to ensuring the availability of seeds, fertilizers, and distribution of crops.

"In the future, with the mechanization of modern tools, productivity can increase, it can increase," he said.

He emphasized that efforts to synergize and collaborate closely between the relevant cross-sectors can realize the strengthening of domestic food self-sufficiency.

"I want to convey that working methods like this, we must continue, we must add more to realize the wishes of the President, namely strong food self-sufficiency," he said.

Along with the national development planning program which makes food self-sufficiency a top priority, it must be achieved properly.

This is in line with President Prabowo Subianto's directives which place commodity power as a strategic way to accelerate national food security.

"I hope that in the future Bulog can also have more innovations, breakthroughs to increase absorption. Specifications for harvests that may not be appropriate, please find a solution together," he said.