Gov’t Calls for Development of Food Estates in the Country
Food estate
The Indonesian Government called for the development of food estates throughout the country.
“So, on reports of food estates to the President, there is a progress of food estate in Central Kalimantan. Ministry of Agriculture has developed around 60,000 hectares. There were 30,000 hectares in 2020 and 14,000 hectares in 2021. There is also an extensification of 16,000 hectares,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (10/04).
On the development of food estates in Central Kalimantan province, he said that the President ordered Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) to provide water channels and assist in land management. “Ministry of Agriculture will enter the land once it’s ready and the land is prepared by Ministry of PUPR,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the development of food estates in North Sumatra province, from the 22-hectare target, 7 hectares have been realized.
“According to the decision of Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, the assignment was given to Regent of Humbang Hasundutan as the person in charge. However, this will have even greater potential and Minister of Agriculture is tasked with intervening in the activities,” said Airlangga.
For East Nusa Tenggara province, the Government has prepared Belu regency, Central Sumba regency, and East Sumba regency as areas for developing food estates with corn and sorghum as commodities. In East Sumba regency, sorghum will be planted on an area of 1,000 hectares.
“In Belu, 559-hectare land is prepared to be planted with corn and the Government will monitor this. Likewise, in Central Sumba, it should cover an area of 10,000 hectares with a realization of almost 10,000 hectares. The availability of water and fertilizer is the Government’s concern,” he said.
Furthermore, for the Papua region, the Government called for the development of food estates in Merauke and Keerom areas. “In Merauke, it can almost reach 1 million hectares while in Keerom, it is around 3,000 hectares,” he said. (DND/UN) (FI/MMB)
