Deputy Minister Veronica Calls for Collaboration to Develop Women's Food Gardens

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Deputy Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Veronica Tan, is encouraging the strengthening of cross-sector collaboration to develop the Women’s Food Garden (KPP) to ensure that women at the grassroots level become an essential part of inclusive development.

“Government programmes must be tailored to the real needs on the ground. Therefore, we want to build programmes from the bottom up by involving women’s communities and strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration. With the support of all parties, the KPP can be implemented more precisely and provide real benefits for women,” said Deputy Minister Veronica Tan in a statement in Jakarta, Saturday.

She made these remarks during a public discussion and exhibition marking the 40th anniversary of the Women’s Resource Development Centre Association (PPSW).

Veronica Tan expressed her appreciation for the commitment of the PPSW in strengthening the role and position of women in economic, social, and developmental life.

“Four decades represents a journey that reflects the consistency and commitment of the PPSW in accompanying grassroots women. Since 1986, PPSW has contributed to strengthening economic capacity, leadership, solidarity, and the ability of women to participate in decision-making. This commitment has been realised through the collaboration between the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA) and PPSW in Technical Guidance for Rural Women’s Leadership and Women’s Entrepreneurship for the 2021-2025 period,” said Veronica Tan.

This aligns with the efforts of KemenPPPA through the Women’s Food Garden (KPP) as a women’s affirmative programme that integrates economic strengthening, local food development, food security, family nutrition, and community empowerment.

“The KPP is not merely a garden, but an effort to empower women at the grassroots level through access to land, the development of local food, the promotion of economic independence, and knowledge regarding family nutrition,” said Veronica Tan.

The Women’s Food Garden has commenced with pilot projects in East Nusa Tenggara, utilising 650 hectares of social forestry land managed by approximately 600 women in groups, and is continuing to expand in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

Veronica Tan believes that when women possess economic power and move together within communities, the space for them to speak and participate in decision-making also expands.