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Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto is committed to enhancing the nation’s food security, including using cadets and academics from the National Defense University (IDU) to develop water technology. Subianto explained that the effort is a first step toward predicting the potential for climate change.
“Our rainfall is as good as it is now. I will be careful next year. We look for water sources everywhere. We will mandate the National Defense University to develop water technology,” Subianto said after attending a ceremony to mark the 77th Anniversary of the Armed Forces (TNI) held at Merdeka Palace on Wednesday.
Water sources are also being explored in all regions to address the potential for climate change that could adversely affect the sustainability of Indonesian agricultural land.
Subianto also recalled that Indonesia’s agricultural production has been very good in recent years and the national food reserves could be well supported.
Subianto therefore underscored President Joko Widodo’s message to stay united in anticipating a possible food crisis that has occurred in several countries, including Indonesia.
In mid-August, he also noted that since 2019, Indonesia has received an award from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for its rice self-sufficiency achievements. “Therefore, compared to other countries, we are one of the happiest nations. According to FAO, there are now more than 300 million people. Every day, around 15,000 people die of hunger worldwide.
“I think the government is working hard, the president is working hard, and you can see that they have meetings every week on food and energy. So we have to be careful,” he said.
In addition, Subianto encouraged TNI executives to engage in efforts to strengthen the nation’s food security, including by making use of unused land in various regions.
“It is very important to work with counties, cities, state governments and the private sector. We should use land that is not being used for food or energy,” the minister said. At an internal meeting on food real estate development chaired by President Joko Widodo held at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (October 4), Coordinating Economy Minister Airlangga Hartarto said that Prabowo Subianto is a strategic logistics reserve agency. said he would take over as head of the The agency is to be constituted by the regulatory legal framework contained in the presidential decrees (perpres) relating to the increase of domestic food production through the development of food lands.