Iswahjudi Air Force Base Harvests Sugarcane to Support National Food Security Programme

Iswahjudi Air Force Base (Lanud Iswahjudi) has carried out a simultaneous sugarcane harvest on land within the base’s area as an effort to support the national food security programme. Commander of Lanud Iswahjudi, Air Marshal Muchtadi Anjar Legowo, stated that the Indonesian Air Force not only safeguards the nation’s airspace but also actively collaborates with the community to support the central government’s food security programme. “We, the TNI, together with the surrounding community, are striving to support the government’s food security programme. The Air Force’s contribution through sugarcane can reach 45 per cent of the national sugar requirement, while the Army contributes up to 50 per cent of the national rice requirement through paddy, and the Navy contributes 0.5 per cent through soybeans,” he said during the simultaneous harvest of sugarcane, rice, and soybeans on TNI-managed land. The event was led online by President Prabowo alongside local farmers in the area surrounding Lanud Iswahjudi, Maospati District, Magetan, East Java. He explained that the simultaneous sugarcane harvest conducted by the Air Force is tangible evidence of the agricultural sector’s success and a form of synergy with local farming communities to support national food security, particularly in sugar. “In essence, through this activity, the TNI aims to demonstrate its real contribution to supporting national food security, covering sugarcane, rice, and soybeans,” he said. Specifically within the Lanud Iswahjudi area, he noted that unused land converted for agricultural purposes spans 68 hectares. Of this, approximately 62 hectares are used for sugarcane cultivation, while the remainder is planted with other crops such as rice and vegetables. He explained that the sugarcane variety planted is Bulu Lawang, with an estimated yield of around 60 tonnes per hectare and a rendement of 6 per cent. More than 100 local farmers are involved in cultivating the agricultural land, creating a symbiotic relationship where residents gain employment and the TNI obtains agricultural produce to achieve the food self-sufficiency targeted by President Prabowo Subianto.