President Prabowo: Food Self-sufficiency Key to Accelerating Development in Papua

President Prabowo Subianto delivers directives to Papua’s regional heads and Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/16). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

Acceleration of development in Papua must be supported by safeguarding the nation’s wealth and strengthening food self-sufficiency down to the regional level.

The statement was made by President Prabowo Subianto in his directives to Papua’s regional heads and Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/16).

The President stated that the Central Government continues to work to review regulations and to secure all national assets so they can be utilized to the greatest extent for the benefit of the people.

He went on to say that Papua’s development acceleration must be ensured to all sectors, prioritizing food sector as the main foundation of the nation’s life and national transformation. He added that food security is the key to nation’s sustainability and must be built from the regional to national levels.

“To secure food, we must achieve food self-sufficiency. We must ensure our own food production, not only food at the national level; we must achieve food self-sufficiency at the provincial level, and even, if necessary, at the regency level,” he said.

The Head of State reminded all that the ongoing flood in several provinces proved that all regions must be able to sustain independently when distribution flow is disrupted. He also promoted the strengthening of “Food Estate” concept  from the village up to the national level.

“We used to have village food estate. We must reinstate the program be it at villages, sub-districts, regencies, provinces, and also at the national level,” he stated.

Also on that occasion, the President highlighted the high logistics costs resulting from interregional dependence in meeting food needs, making it necessary for each region to develop food production in accordance with its respective local potential.

President Prabowo emphasized that the Central Government is ready to assist every region in achieving food self-sufficiency, including areas with challenging geographic terrain.

“We will help our people so that every regency can achieve food self-sufficiency,” the President said. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RAS/LW)