President Prabowo Lauds Active Participation to Realize National Food Resilience

President Prabowo Subianto delivers his remarks at the launching of the Indonesia Planting Movement (Gerina) in Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra province, Wednesday (04/23). (Photo by: BPMI)

In a bid to realizing national food resilience through community-based initiatives, President Prabowo Subianto Wednesday (04/23) officially launched the Indonesia Planting Movement (Gerakan Indonesia Menanam/Gerina) in Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra province. It is a collaborative movement to raise awareness and encourage active participation of the communities to plant, grow, and harvest crops.

In his remarks, President Prabowo stressed the strategic importance of food sovereignty, noting that no country can survive without securing its own food supply. The President also expressed appreciation for the involvement of all elements of the society to realize national food resilience, for example the Indonesia Planting Movement that was initiated by Ustaz Adi Hidayat.

“What was initiated by Ustaz Adi Hidayat and other figures like Setiawan Ichlas—who is an old friend of mine—makes me happy. This kind of innovation, improvisation, research, and use of technology will make Indonesia a successful nation. What is being developed here is a model, and I believe there are many more like this that deserve the opportunity to grow,” the President said.

In the meantime, Ustaz Adi Hidayat underscored the importance of cooperation among stakeholders in achieving food security goals. “When the Government has a program, design, and vision, the people must support it to accelerate its realization and raise awareness,” he added.

He also introduced two key programs of the Gerina: Si Opung (Floating Rice Farm) and Si Cepot (Fast Growing in Pots).

Si Opung is designed for people who do not have arable land, utilizing water ponds as an alternative medium for rice cultivation. “If someone has a pond or is willing to build one near their home, we can help install the system at an affordable cost so they can utilize it and harvest the crops,” Ustaz Adi Hidayat said.

As for Si Cepot, it promotes pot-based planting methods that allow families to grow rice, chilies, potatoes, and other food crops at home. “With this method, households can harvest the crops up to three times, potentially saving Rp100,000 to Rp300,000 compared to conventional purchasing,” he added.

During the launch, President Prabowo also inspected a research area showcasing modern agricultural techniques and visited an exhibition by Gerina’s planting partners, highlighting innovative contributions from across the country.

With the collective spirit of cooperation, the Gerina is expected to create a lasting impact on national food security. (BPMI Presidential Secretariat) (GWH/MMB)