Central Jakarta administration plants 4,682 seedlings across 48 locations for food security

The Central Jakarta city government has planted 4,682 rice-companion crop seedlings across 48 locations spread over eight sub-districts to strengthen food security by making use of limited land.

“The planting of rice-companion crops in Central Jakarta is carried out continuously through various activities aimed at encouraging the public to carry out greening amid limited land,” said Central Jakarta TP PKK chairperson Witri Yenny Arifin in a written statement in Jakarta on Monday.

Witri said the planting was carried out at 10 Taman Hatinya PKK locations, 20 Child-Friendly Integrated Public Spaces (RPTRA) and 18 urban farming sites.

The seedlings planted consisted of 200 porang, 101 sweet potato, 130 cassava, 70 banana, 105 corn, 1,120 water spinach, 1,620 pak choi, 950 spinach, 76 watercress, and 310 tomato, chilli, aubergine and melon plants.

In addition to the crops, the authorities also provided 400 tilapia fingerlings.

Witri said the simultaneous planting involved PKK cadres, RT and RW administrators, and community figures.

She said the planting movement was also being expanded to a number of schools in Central Jakarta as part of efforts to promote greening and strengthen food security.

“The planting of rice-companion crops in Central Jakarta is carried out continuously through various activities. We hope these 48 locations will become food-security points that continue to grow and provide benefits for Central Jakarta residents,” she said.

Meanwhile, head of the Central Jakarta Food Security, Marine and Agriculture Sub-agency (KPKP), Siti Halimah, said her office was providing assistance and seedlings to urban farming activists to support sustainable food security.

She said she was optimistic that the rice-companion crop planting movement would not stop at 48 locations but would continue to grow so that it could benefit the community.

“It will continue to grow in the future to make a positive contribution to economic improvement, especially the development of a greener, healthier and globally competitive Jakarta,” Siti said.