In Kupang, Vice President Gibran Praises Farmers' Produce for MBG Supply
The government is currently striving to optimise the entire agricultural production chain from upstream to downstream, including the utilisation of modern technology.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President (Wapres) Gibran Rakabuming Raka praised several farming groups in Desa Mata Air, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, after hearing reports that their produce was being supplied as raw materials for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme in the local area.
During his working visit to Kupang on Monday (6/4), Vice President Gibran also met with the farming groups, namely the Millennial Farmers Community, consisting of the Sulamanda Youth Farmers Group and the Cinta Kasih Women’s Farmers Group at the GMIT (Evangelical Christian Church in Timor) Tarus Agro-Edu-Wisata in Desa Mata Air.
“I saw earlier that the harvest is already being supplied for MBG. So the off-taker (fixed buyer of the harvest) is clear, right, it will be used for MBG, including the fisheries which are also supplied,” said Vice President Gibran during a dialogue session with several farmers, as quoted from the official broadcast of the Vice Presidential Secretariat confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Therefore, in front of the farmers, Vice President Gibran asked the Governor of East Nusa Tenggara, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, to help find solutions to the obstacles faced by the farmers so that they can maintain the quantity and quality of their harvest.
At the same location, one of the farmers, Nathalie Marlinche, directly conveyed the challenges faced by the farmers in Desa Mata Air, including limited water and the use of fairly simple tools in land management.
“The first is related to the provision of water for us to irrigate. Usually, we carry the water on our shoulders. The second is related to the land management process where we still use simple tools like hoes,” said Nathalie.
After hearing the complaints from the farmers, Gibran emphasised that the government is currently striving to optimise the entire agricultural production chain from upstream to downstream, including the utilisation of modern technology.
“We will think about it from A to Z. So issues of water, seeds, seedlings, fertiliser, and most importantly modern equipment. We can’t keep using manual labour and tools, our hard work will be wasted,” he asserted.
“Sir, Madam, now the President’s focus is on food self-sufficiency and energy self-sufficiency. So the President has instructed us to really boost agricultural production,” said Gibran.