Minister Of Agriculture Amran Invites Alumnus Universities Throughout Indonesia To Play A Role In Food Self-Sufficiency

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman invites alumnus of state universities throughout Indonesia who are members of the Indonesian State University Alumni Association (Himpuni) to play a role in realizing food self-sufficiency.

"This is an extraordinary force. With the involvement of the Minister, I am sure that self-sufficiency will occur in the near future," Amran said in a statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, May 29.

The Minister of Agriculture said that the Minister of Agriculture, which consists of the nation's best sons and daughters who take part in various institutions, both government, education, and the private sector, can certainly carry out mentoring activities to the application of more advanced agricultural technology.

According to Minister of Agriculture Amran, the Association can take a big role in driving agricultural transformation from traditional to modern patterns. He also told about the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) University which managed to find superior rice varieties called IPB 9G amphibious which can be planted on dry land or rice fields.

This variety, continued Amran, has productivity between 9 and 11 tons per hectare. Amran also hopes that other universities can issue innovations that can boost national production.

"I heard ITB has made a lot of alsintan (agministries and machines red.). Likewise, UI (Indonesian University) and other universities provide other innovations that can help increase national food production," Amran said while giving a speech at the Gathering with the Ministry of Agriculture in Jakarta, Tuesday (28/5) night.

Amran emphasized that the government will develop a number of clusters on a scale of tens of thousands of hectares by implementing modern technology. One of them is agricultural mechanization as is done in developed countries.

"We will use modern technology and alsintan that is equal to developed countries. We hope to play a role," he said.

Amran said that the development of the agricultural sector must be able to strengthen cooperation between the government, academics and industry, in accordance with the triple helix concept. This collaborative concept is a strategic step in making innovations.

"In the next three or four weeks, we will meet again with Sempuni to discuss the collaboration we will carry out between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministries," Amran explained.

In the same place, the Presidium Coordinator of the Supuni Sutopo Kristanto also welcomed Amran's invitation. The Association must also ensure the realization of Indonesia Gold 2045, including in food self-sufficiency.

"We have a responsibility in the context of food self-sufficiency, we (Himpuni) really understand that," he explained.

Sutopo also said that Amran as the current Minister of Agriculture has a role as food self-sufficiency commander. He ensured that He would fully support the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture in preparing food for the people of Indonesia.

"Hempty has human resources in supporting Indonesia in realizing food self-sufficiency again," said Sutopo.