President Jokowi Asks Regions Around IKN To Supply Food Needs For 10 Years

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the regions around the National Capital (IKN) of the Archipelago, East Kalimantan, to prepare to support food needs at IKN.

"Everything is prepared. The IKN itself has not been completed, maybe it is still 10 years or 15 years to come. This means that the provinces around IKN, regencies/cities around IKN must prepare themselves," Jokowi said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, September 26.

Jokowi gave an example of the need for vegetables, fruit and rice to be supplied from the area around IKN.

"For example, where did the supply for vegetables come from, where did the chicken supply come from, where did the rice supply come from," he said.

If the need is not sufficient from East Kalimantan Province, the President said the food needs for IKN could also be supplied from other provinces.

However, the Head of State said that East Kalimantan Province should be able to support food needs for IKN without having to supply from other provinces.

"If it is not enough, it means that you have to take it from other provinces, but if possible, it should be prepared from East Kalimantan Province itself, supported by districts around the capital city of Nusantara, both fruits, vegetables, both rice, and other basic materials so that it really provides economic benefits to the community," said the President.

Previously, the East Kalimantan (Kadin) Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) recommended the management of rice fields in North Penajam Paser Regency (PPU) in an effort to support the food security program at IKN.

"The important thing is from Kadin, we want the government's involvement in food security for East Kalimantan," said Chairman of the East Kalimantan Chamber of Commerce, Donna Faroek, after a dialogue with President Jokowi.

Jokowi said that currently East Kalimantan is not yet independent in food security, because food supplies still have to be imported from Java and Sulawesi.

Donna is pushing for food security in East Kalimantan to respond to population growth which is expected to accelerate along with development at IKN.

"Currently there are only 23 thousand workers, there will be ASN, added the TNI-Polri, this must be considered how to serve their food," he said.