Mayor urges residents to utilise vacant land for food security

Jakarta (ANTARA) - North Jakarta Mayor Hendra Hidayat has urged local residents to utilise every vacant plot of land around their homes for growing crops to build food security. “We are inviting the community to make use of empty land near their homes as a source of family food,” Hendra said while opening the Gerakan Menanam Jakarta Utara 2026 campaign in Jakarta on Thursday. He stated that this movement is a concrete step in addressing fluctuations in staple commodity prices that impact regional inflation. According to him, the Planting Movement is not merely ceremonial but an action to strengthen food security. He added that if every household can independently produce part of their food needs from home, dependence on certain market commodities can be reduced. He also emphasised the importance of simultaneously planting commodities such as chillies, edamame, and watermelons to maintain supply stability and food prices in the North Jakarta area. Meanwhile, Head of the North Jakarta Food Security, Maritime, and Agriculture Sub-Department (KPKP) Novi Christine Palit said the Gerakan Menanam Jakarta Utara 2026 activity is being carried out at 143 planting locations spread across the entire North Jakarta region, from the mayor’s office, sub-districts, villages, RPTRA, to urban farming enthusiast sites. The purpose of this activity, Novi said, is to increase food availability and family self-sufficiency, support nutritional fulfilment, and maintain food price stability while curbing inflation rates. “In addition, this activity also aims to encourage active community participation in productively utilising narrow land, while creating a greener and more sustainable environment,” she said. The government is providing various agricultural facilities such as edamame and chilli seeds, polybag sacks, fertiliser, and growing media. “Meanwhile, watermelon seeds are provided by PT East West Seed as part of a collaboration with the private sector,” she added.