\u201cDespite the global situation affecting almost all countries,\nIndonesia\u2019s food supply remains secure. We have 4.7 million tons of\nrice,\u201d he said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year\u2019s production, God willing, will be higher than last year.\nThere are sufficient supplies of fish, eggs, and chicken, as well as\nplenty of vegetables and fruit,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Hasan delivered the remarks while speaking at the auditorium of\nMuhammadiyah University of Purwokerto (UMP) in Banyumas District,\nCentral Java, where he served as keynote speaker at a national seminar\non \u201cStrengthening Food Security in Indonesia and the Role of\nMuhammadiyah in Building a Sustainable Food Availability Ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the adequate availability of food indicates that Indonesia\u2019s\nfood security remains intact, even as several countries face pressure\nfrom conflicts and disruptions to global supply chains.<\/p>\n
According to him, strengthening food security going forward will\ndepend not only on availability, but also on sustainable production\ndriven by innovation and research.<\/p>\n
He emphasized the importance of collaboration with universities to\ndevelop superior crop varieties and agricultural technologies, including\nresearch on rice, coconut, cocoa, corn, and other plantation\ncommodities.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo maintain sustainable food security, we need research, new rice\nvarieties, and superior seeds for coconut, cocoa, corn, and others. We\nmust collaborate with all universities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hasan also encouraged the development of simple technologies to\nprocess organic waste into fertilizer in order to support agricultural\nproductivity.<\/p>\n
In addition, the government plans to build modern rice milling\nfacilities in several regions, including Banyumas, in cooperation with\nPerum Bulog as part of efforts to strengthen downstream agricultural\nindustries.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod willing, Banyumas will receive one rice milling facility to be\nbuilt with Bulog, as this area, including Banyumas, Cilacap,\nPurbalingga, and Banjarnegara, is a major rice production center,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Banyumas Regent Sadewo Tri Lastiono expressed the regional\ngovernment\u2019s readiness to support the initiative by preparing strategic\nland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was asked to provide between two and five hectares of land for the\nconstruction of a modern rice mill, and we have prepared several\nalternatives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He noted that the land provision reflects local support for central\ngovernment programs, particularly in developing post-harvest processing\nfacilities to increase the added value of agricultural products.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, UMP\u2019 Rector Jebul Suroso said the university is ready to\nstrengthen food research and downstreaming through collaboration with\nthe government.<\/p>\n
\u201cI spoke about post-harvest rice processing, and it turns out the\nBanyumas district welcomed the plan for a modern rice mill to be built\nin cooperation with Bulog,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think this is positive and also a challenge for UMP to further\nstrengthen its role in food research and downstreaming,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the university is also committed to supporting\nmillennial farmers in contributing to national food security\nprograms.<\/p>\n
\u201cUMP will always be ready. We support the emergence of millennial\nfarmers so they can contribute to food security and government\nprograms,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In addition, the university supports the Free Nutritious Meals\nprogram by providing kitchen facilities on campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also support the program. At UMP, we have established at least\nthree kitchens for the initiative,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Related news: Sustainable agriculture to achieve food security:\ndeputy minister<\/p>\n
Related news: Govt pushes research\u2013industry integration for economic\ngrowth<\/p>\n
Translator: Sumarwoto, Katriana<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-encourages-downstreaming-and-food-research-on-campus-1776516661", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }