Prabowo Targets Food Self-Sufficiency, Ministry Of Finance Prepares Budget

Agriculture (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Finance of Indonesia Anggito Abimanyu said that the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) is preparing a budget for the food self-sufficiency program which is President Prabowo Subianto's main focus.

According to Anggito, there is already 1 million hectares of rice fields in Maluku to prepare a food self-sufficiency program.

"He (President Prabowo) has launched five years of self-sufficiency in rice, there are already embryos in Maluku, one million hectares of rice fields have been worked on. A very good ecosystem integrated," said Anggito at the Vocational School Senate Open Meeting at Gadjah Mada University, Monday, October 28, 2024.

According to Anggito, President Prabowo is targeting to prepare 3 million hectares of rice so that Indonesia can become the largest rice producer in the world.

"If we build 3 million, then Indonesia will become the largest rice producer in the world, but step by step is one million first, we will prepare the budget, then 3 million. Number one self-sufficiency makes sure we don't have rice imports," he explained.

"Make sure we are enough to support our people through the existing food and products," he added.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto targeted Indonesia to be able to produce and meet the food needs of all people.

"I have studied with the experts who helped me, I am sure that no later than four to five years we will be self-sufficient in food, we are even ready to become a world food barn," Prabowo said at the Nusantara Building, Senayan Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Sunday, October 20.

Prabowo assessed that in the future Indonesia should not always depend on imports of materials or food sources from abroad.

"In a crisis, in a precarious situation, no one will allow their goods for us to buy. Therefore, there is no other way, in the shortest possible time, we must achieve food security," Prabowo continued to applause.

On that occasion, Prabowo admitted that he could not simply feel proud after Indonesia joined the G-20 and entered the country with the 16th largest economy in the world.

Although this achievement has been achieved, Prabowo emphasized that poverty is still experienced by many people. This problem, according to him, must be resolved in his leadership.

"Are we aware that poverty in Indonesia is still too great? Are we aware that many of our people and our children are malnourished? Many of our people do not get a good job. Many of our schools are not taken care of," explained Prabowo.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we must have the courage to see this all and we must have the courage to solve this problem all," he added.