Heru Budi Wants To Build Food Estate In The Thousand Islands, DPRD: Is It Possible?

Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono at DKI Jakarta City Hall, Thursday, February 9. (Diah-VOI)

JAKARTA - Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono plans to build a food estate in the Thousand Islands. Responding to this, Chairman of Commission B of the DKI Jakarta DPRD Ismail doubts that the program can run smoothly.

"If there is a discourse to turn it into a food barn, that's legal. The only problem is, is it possible? Because currently there is still limited food needs for local residents," Ismail told reporters, Thursday, March 21.

Ismail reminded the DKI Provincial Government to seriously carry out the food estate project if it is later implemented.

The DKI Provincial Government, according to him, also needs to conduct a comprehensive study on the mechanisms and benefits that can be produced for the community before this program runs. Given, there is an APBD that is disbursed to create a food estate.

"What is certain is that whatever is desired in the Thousand Islands, it must be based on a thorough study, not relying on or based on a temporary desire," said Ismail.

Ismail is also worried about the impact of the increase in food estate prices generated from the food estate in the Thousand Islands. Given, there needs to be additional distribution costs from islands to cities in Jakarta.

"Impact on the mainland must be considered because there is a cost that comes directly to direct Jakarta from anywhere, this must be sent again. Don't reverse it. Later in mainland Jakarta it will be expensive. This must be discussed," he said.

Previously, Heru Budi revealed that there were plans to develop food estates in the Thousand Islands in order to increase food security in Jakarta. According to Heru, this is because the Thousand Islands is a marine area rich in marine products such as fish, seaweed, beans and so on.

This was said by Heru at the Development Planning Musyarawah (Musrenbang) event in 2024 of the Thousand Islands Administrative District in the context of drafting the Regional Government Work Plan (RKPD) of DKI Jakarta Province in 2025.

"We see that the need for basic commodities is decreasing in the world. So in 2025 and beyond, the Thousand Islands must think of becoming a food barn for the people of DKI Jakarta," said Heru on Tuesday, March 19.

Heru views that there needs to be synergy with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, as well as the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to maintain and develop the Thousand Islands Regency into a cleaner and more organized area.

"Of course, my hope is that the regent and his staff, together with community leaders and all entrepreneurs who are engaged in the Thousand Islands tourism environment, can support this to create a prosperous Thousand Islands community," he concluded.