24.7 Hectare Agricultural Land In IKN Becomes The Initial Capital For Food Security

SAMARINDA - Deputy for Environment and Natural Resources of the Capital Archipelago Authority (OIKN) Myrna A Safitri said the availability of 24.7 hectares of agricultural land in IKN was the initial capital to build IKN food security.

"This 24.7 hectare (ha) land covers an area of 9.64 percent of the IKN area so that we will maximize it for food production for needs at IKN," said Myrna as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 11.

Such a large land has been programmed with optimal management through sustainable intensification, then it will be carried out with an expansion to a minimum of 25,600 ha or 10 percent of the IKN area.

His party will also continue to encourage local farmers to intensify the land, not extensification because population growth will not be proportional to the area of land available, so what must be done is the use of agricultural technology.

Meanwhile, in general, the IKN food security strategy consists of various elements such as maintaining some agricultural areas, namely taking into account the continuous activities, including observing the surrounding population who work as farmers.

Then carry out sustainable intensification of agriculture in a broad sense starting from food crops, plantations, livestock and fisheries that are already running in the IKN area.

Another thing that is also a study is the development of food estates in East Kalimantan, because this area is a relocation area for local food production areas that are affected in the development of IKN.

Another thing that is of concern to his party is healthy and quality food, namely food produced from agriculture in an environmentally friendly manner or not using fertilizers or chemical medicines, but all of them with natural materials.

"Smart farming is one that is able to produce food ingredients that do not produce waste, do not pollute the environment, but use natural materials. Now is an environmentally friendly agricultural trend," said Myrna.