Food Estate Acceleration To Maintain Food Security, Government Collaborates With China To The Netherlands

Screenshot of Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan. (Photo: VOI/Mary Handayani)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves), Luhut Pandjaitan said that the government's efforts to maintain food security in a sustainable manner are through food estates. For the development of this food estate, the government is also collaborating with foreign partners such as China and the Netherlands.

“Collaboration with overseas partners is also part of the effort to accelerate the development of this food estate. Several assessments have been carried out, including with China, the Netherlands and Taipei," he said at a virtual BMKG National Coordination Meeting on Monday, August 8.

Luhut said that this food estate has also been included in the national strategic program for 2022-2024 by prioritizing increasing the availability of access and quality of food consumption programs.

The government, continued Luhut, is also developing food estates in two areas, namely Central Kalimantan with 29.000 hectares and North Sumatra with 20.000 hectares.

"In addition, there are other potentials, such as in Papua with an area of 210.000 hectares, in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), there are 10.000 hectares and in Central Sulawesi there are 15.000 hectares," he said.

From the fisheries sector, said Luhut, the government's efforts to strengthen food security are through the Integrated Marine and Fisheries Center program, especially in the outer islands and border areas.

Therefore, Luhut hopes that BMKG services can support food security and sovereignty related to monitoring predictions and early improvement of extreme climate weather conditions and also contributing strategically to the pillars of food availability and national food insecurity.

Luhut said the role of BMKG was very important. Especially in the current conditions where global conditions are uncertain due to the war in Ukraine and also tensions in the region with Taiwan and China.

"It also has a big impact on food and energy security. And we also need to build a food estate, and that requires the role of BMKG to be able to do agriculture in a modern way,” he explained.