Baznas RI Strengthens Food Security in East Lombok
East Lombok (ANTARA) - The National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) of the Republic of Indonesia states that zakat funds under its management are being realised in the form of extensive corn fields in East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, as a mandate to prosper the ummah and strengthen national food security.
“This mandate of the community’s funds will not be optimal without the support of the local government. In East Lombok, the support is extraordinary, even extending to BPJS Employment protection for farmers,” said Baznas Chairman Dr Ir H Sodik Mudjahid in East Lombok on Thursday.
This was stated during the major corn harvest event on dry land in Gunung Malang Village, Pringgabaya Subdistrict, East Lombok Regency.
He emphasised that food sovereignty is the breath of life for the people, in line with the national vision on food, water, and energy security.
“We have tremendous natural resources. We must not lose to Thailand. We should feel envious seeing Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia eating Thai food products, when we have great potential here,” he said.
He stated that through this food barn programme, it is hoped that farmers will not only survive pests and diseases but also elevate their economic status.
“This major harvest is concrete proof that targeted zakat management, combined with agricultural innovation, can create real impacts on community welfare,” he said.
Meanwhile, East Lombok Regent Haerul Warisin said this programme is not merely a ceremonial cutting of corn stalks, but a symbol of economic revival through the agricultural sector on marginal lands.
“From a total of 113,000 hectares of dry land, farmers in the southern region such as Jerowaru have transformed independently,” he said.
He stated that the people of East Lombok are extraordinary; they have voluntarily sacrificed part of their land to build thousands of rainwater harvesting ponds independently.
“There, they raise fish, and then the water is used to irrigate corn and tobacco,” he said.
He noted that this strategy has proven effective, as the agricultural sector now dominates East Lombok’s Gross Regional Domestic Product at 27%.
Not only that, the Regent also reaffirmed his commitment to farmers’ welfare through BPJS Employment innovations.
“All supervised farmer groups, including mosque caretakers and Quranic teachers, have been protected by social security with death benefit values ranging from Rp106 million to Rp260 million,” he said.