Trade Minister Zulhas: The Islands Of Kalimantan And Papua Are The Future Of Indonesian Agriculture To Realize Food Self-Sufficiency

Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan said that the land on the islands of Kalimantan and Papua is the future of Indonesian agriculture to realize food self-sufficiency.

"We have a future, this is what I convey to Pak Prabowo (President-elect 2024-2029) and also Pak Jokowi (President of the Republic of Indonesia). Our future is in Kalimantan and in Papua. The big one is the land. We can make mechanizations of corn, sugar cane, or rice," said the Trade Minister during a Working Meeting with Commission VI DPR RI in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, July 9.

The Trade Minister said that Indonesia's agricultural future is in Kalimantan and Papua. The two islands can be made mechanized for rice or corn.

According to him, if Indonesia continues to rely on Java Island for agricultural affairs, efforts to realize self-sufficiency in sugar or rice will not be achieved.

He views that it is difficult for Indonesia to achieve self-sufficiency in food if it only relies on agricultural development in Java, because according to him, land is no longer available.

"Our plantation, say Java, where are we going? When do you want to self-sufficiency in sugar? When are you self-sufficiency in rice? The land doesn't exist, the existing ones turn into factories, turn into housing. So if we dream of self-sufficiency in sugar, self-sufficiency in all kinds of rice in Java, it's impossible, in my opinion, yes. Impossible with any technology," said the Trade Minister.

According to Zukifli, as long as Indonesia still relies on agriculture in Java, food prices in Indonesia will continue to rise.

In fact, as a result, the lack of agricultural land caused by land conversion, especially in Java, will certainly have an impact on reducing productivity so that Indonesia must depend on imports, which in turn Indonesia must follow global price developments.

The Trade Minister also gave an example when India banned rice exports, it also had an impact on domestic rice prices that also rose.

Therefore, the Minister of Trade views that Indonesia's agricultural future is in Kalimantan and Papua.

The Trade Minister admitted that he had conveyed this to President Joko Widodo and the elected President for the 2024-2029 period Prabowo Subianto.

"So, indeed, the future of us and the President (selected) Prabowo also agrees, our future is in Papua and Kalimantan. There we can make mechanizations. Hopefully five years of sugar, rice can be (swasembada) if we are serious and supported by DPR friends," said Zulkifli.