Tim Delta Prabowo Gibran: Downstream Agriculture Not Only Turns Farmers Into Modern But...

Deputy Commander of the Delta TKN Team Prabowo-Gibran La Ode Labsin Naadu (ANTARA/HO-Personal Documentation)

JAKARTA - The Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team (TKN) explained the importance of agricultural sterilization in Indonesia in improving farmers' welfare and increasing agricultural competitiveness. "Agricultural downstream is not only about changing the profession of farmers in Indonesia to be more modern, but also changing the paradigm from grain farmers to rice farmers," said Deputy Commander of the Delta TKN Team Prabowo-Gibran La Ode Labsin Naadu in a written statement in Jakarta, Antara, Sunday, December 31. Farmers' transformation is not only about shifting from one phase of production to the next phase, but rather an evolution in the thinking and actions of farmers. This is done by adopting modern agricultural practices, utilizing technology, and improving skills in managing the rice production process. "Farmers are not only the producer of grain but also the main designer in producing high-quality rice," he said. Labsin, who is also the Board of Trustees of the Prabowo Youth Force (Ampera), stated that the importance of downstreaming agriculture is also reflected in efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency, and improve the welfare of farmers through the Food Estate project. Despite criticism, he continued, the project has great potential for the future of Indonesian agriculture. He explained the first reason, Food Estate can become a laboratory for agricultural development, focusing on developing the latest technology and agricultural practices. Second, the project is directed to develop previously unproductive land, provide opportunities for ecosystem rehabilitation and increased environmental sustainability. Third, Food Estate can be a catalyst for empowering farmers through access to wider knowledge, technology, and markets. Fourth, this project encourages the development of agroindustry, reducing dependence on the single agricultural sector. Fifth, Food Estate creates economic and social opportunities in remote areas through investment and job creation. Finally, the Food Estate design can be a model for environmentally friendly and energy efficient agriculture. "Another challenge in Food Estate is to ensure that farmers involved get maximum added value. Through a downstream approach, the government can help farmers adopt modern practices and maximize their crops," he asserted. He hopes that the collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture as the main sector of Food Estate and other relevant Ministries/agencies will be the key to continuity in promoting the welfare of farmers. Previously, the General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia on Monday, November 13, 2023, determined that three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates would participate in the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections (Pilpres).

The results of the draw and determination of the number of participants for the 2024 presidential election on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, the pair Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD number 3. The KPU has also set a campaign period from November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024, then the voting schedule will be on February 14, 2024.