Legislator: Police-farmer collaboration realises garlic self-sufficiency
Jakarta (ANTARA) - House of Representatives Commission IV member Rajiv has praised the collaboration between the National Police, regional governments and farmers in strengthening garlic production to support national food self-sufficiency.
In a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday, Rajiv said the simultaneous garlic planting centred in Sembalun, West Nusa Tenggara, is part of the National Police’s food security programme.
“I appreciate National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit and all regional and resort police ranks who moved quickly to respond to the President’s aspiration of achieving food self-sufficiency, particularly for garlic,” Rajiv said.
According to him, the activity reflects a concrete step through land expansion as well as collaboration with regional governments, farmer groups and thousands of farmers in various regions.
“What is interesting about this activity is not only the area of land planted, but the National Police’s ability to mobilise collaboration with regional governments, farmer groups and thousands of farmers simultaneously in various regions,” he said.
In Sembalun, harvesting was carried out on 105 hectares of land with a production potential of around 1,050 tonnes. At the same time, new planting was prepared on 120 hectares of land to maintain production continuity.
“This is important because self-sufficiency must be built as a sustainable process, not merely a ceremonial activity at one harvest moment,” he said.
Based on information from the National Police Public Relations Division, simultaneous planting was also carried out in 14 regional police areas covering 279.53 hectares with a production potential of almost 2,800 tonnes of garlic.
The activity involved 2,174 farmers who are members of 110 farmer groups. Rajiv assessed that farmer involvement is an important part of building the national food production base.
“The figure of 2,174 farmers involved and the potential harvest of almost 2,800 tonnes of garlic must be seen as something very important. Because the great goal of food security is ultimately not merely about producing commodities, but also strengthening the capacity of farmers as the main actors of national food production,” he said.
According to him, this step is needed so that the expansion of planting areas can increase production sustainably while reducing Indonesia’s dependence on garlic imports.
“I hope the steps initiated by the National Police Chief and his ranks will not stop at planting,” he said.
He added that the next challenges are maintaining productivity, ensuring harvests are absorbed, maintaining prices that benefit farmers, and building a national garlic ecosystem from upstream to downstream.
“If this consistency can be maintained, its contribution to Indonesia’s food independence will become increasingly evident,” he said.
Rajiv encouraged consistent programme oversight, expansion of farmer involvement, and increased productivity so that the activity becomes part of strengthening the national garlic production base.
The simultaneous garlic planting centred in Sembalun was also combined with the garlic harvest and the inauguration of a National Police food security warehouse.