Realizing Food Security, Army Chief Of Staff Maruli Encourages TNI To Take Advantage Of Sleeping Land To Become Productive Land

Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak in Mekarjaya Village, Ciemas, Sukabumi, West Java, on Thursday 18 January. (Ist)

In order to realize national food security, the Army Chief of Staff (KSAD), TNI General Maruli Simanjuntak, encouraged TNI members to take advantage of sleeping land into productive land.

This call was made in the context of the success of the Indonesian Army in changing sleeping land as a Food Security (Han Pangan) pilot project in the Sukabumi area.

The former Kostrad Commander conveyed his call during a review of Kostrad's food security and opened a Technical Working Meeting for the Indonesian Army's 2024 Territorial Sector (Rakernister) in Mekarjaya Village, Ciemas, Sukabumi, West Java, on Thursday 18 January.

Army Chief of Staff Maruli realized that the influence of hot weather (El Nino) had a negative impact on food conditions in Indonesia, threatening farmers' crops. Therefore, the Indonesian Army has proactively turned sleeping land into productive land, as has been successful in Ciemas, Sukabumi.

"Today we are involving relevant agencies to evaluate the Food Security Project Pilot which has been running for 1.5 years. Han Pangan is already at 5 points, including in Sukabumi," he said.

The Army Chief of Staff emphasized that the success of this productive land cannot be separated from the support of all parties, including community participation. The management of 700 hectares of land in Ciemas is considered to be running well by the Army Chief of Staff.

"We have tried to manage this land with the community and it is going quite well. I think this also greatly affects the welfare of the community. Hopefully in the future this concept will run well, we will distribute the results of this land management to them (the community)," he said.

On this occasion, the Army Chief of Staff provided assistance in the form of basic necessities, sports facilities for teenagers, and compensation for orphans. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) provided technology assistance for ditches, reservoirs, tractors, livestock, and fish seeds to the Army Chief of Staff.

Deputy Regent of Sukabumi Iyos Somantri appreciated the implementation of food security in Ciemas. On behalf of the community, he thanked the Army and Army for the welfare of Sukabumi residents.

With initiatives like this, it is hoped that neglected sleeping land can be a productive resource for regional progress.