Observer: Land Intensification Key to Food Self-Sufficiency

Farmers bear rice seeds to be planted in the Patianrowo rice fields, Nganjuk, East Java, Thursday (17/10/2024). The Prabowo-Gibran government guarantees the availability of fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides for farmers

JAKARTA - Director of Digital Economy Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Nailul Huda said the key to achieving food self-sufficiency includes land intensification and provision of human resources (HR).

"If we talk about rice and rice, what can be done is intensification, intensification, extensification, right? Extensification is opening up land, intensification is using technology so that productivity per land increases," said Nailul when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta, Sunday.

Nailul said that currently there is a lot of land in Indonesia that has been converted into industry and housing. With this little land, productivity will be even less until production continues to decrease.

Land intensification is very necessary if we want to achieve the target of food self-sufficiency. However, Nailul reminded that the provision of human resources is also a crucial thing that must be considered.

Furthermore, said Nailul, the use of technology has a big role in land intensification. According to him, so far Indonesia still lacks human resources to implement technologies in the agricultural sector.

"Our human resources are still very lacking to be able to implement technology, this food technology is still lacking in Indonesia, like tractors with large engines are still very minimal and ultimately in vain. I think this must also be underlined," said Nailul.

Nailul also said that self-sufficiency is not just independence in providing food domestically. Easy and affordable access to food for the community is an indicator of food self-sufficiency itself.

Prabowo's programs are indeed aimed at food self-sufficiency, continued Nailul, but if they are not accompanied by access and human resources that are not yet optimal, the target of 4-5 years is predicted to be delayed.

"I think actually this food self-sufficiency should be seen not from independent provision from within the country, but people's access to food can be easier," he said.

Nailul also said that Prabowo must determine which is the most priority for food self-sufficiency. According to him, this would be wiser and more sustainable in terms of food management domestically.

Previously, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto believed that Indonesia could achieve food self-sufficiency or independence in meeting food needs for its people in the next 4-5 years at the latest.

"I am sure that in the next 4-5 years at the latest, we will be self-sufficient in food, and we are even ready to become the world's food barn," Prabowo said while giving a speech at the Inauguration of the President and Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2024-2029 Period at the Nusantara Building, parliamentary complex, Jakarta, Sunday.