Ministry of Agriculture hopes NTB-ID Food collaboration becomes driver of regional economy
The Ministry of Agriculture hopes that the collaboration between West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government and PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (ID Food) in developing an integrated poultry industry valued at Rp1.2 trillion in Sumbawa Regency can become a driver of regional economic growth.
The Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, veterinarian Agung Suganda, emphasised that the integrated poultry project is a national strategic programme receiving direct attention from the central government.
“What we are building is not merely a factory or production facility, but an integrated poultry industry ecosystem involving smallholder farmers as the main actors,” he said after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by West Nusa Tenggara Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal and ID Food Chief Executive Ghimoyo in Mataram on Tuesday.
According to him, the project does not only build production facilities but also creates a poultry industry ecosystem involving smallholder farmers as a key part of the production chain.
West Nusa Tenggara has been designated as one of the main clusters for developing the national integrated poultry project, as it is considered to have significant regional potential and strong support from the local government.
This phase is considered important to ensure the integrated poultry industry development can proceed on schedule, on target, and provide maximum benefits to the community.
“With collaboration between the central government, local government, state-owned enterprises, and smallholder farmers, this project is expected to become a new engine for driving regional economy whilst strengthening national food security from West Nusa Tenggara,” he said.
West Nusa Tenggara Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal said the integrated poultry industry project is not merely an investment in the livestock sector, but a major strategy to improve the welfare of smallholder farmers whilst strengthening regional food independence.
According to him, two strategic sectors in the poultry industry, namely day-old chicks (DOC) and feed, have long been heavily dominated by large businesses, causing many smallholder farmers to operate under partnership arrangements that allow them to survive but make it difficult to develop.
“With the arrival of an integrated poultry industry in West Nusa Tenggara, the government hopes to create a healthier business structure and provide greater opportunity for local farmers to develop independently,” he said.
Iqbal highlighted the need for livestock products in West Nusa Tenggara, particularly eggs and chicken meat, which still experience deficits, with partial supplies dependent on areas outside the region.
“Currently, the number of programme beneficiaries in West Nusa Tenggara has approached one thousand service units. This means the need for food supply, including livestock products, will continue to increase,” he explained.
Therefore, according to Iqbal, the development of an integrated poultry industry is crucial to ensure supply security whilst opening new economic opportunities for West Nusa Tenggara communities.
His administration is prepared to provide full support to ensure the project runs smoothly, particularly in logistics connectivity, infrastructure support, and strengthening the regional livestock business ecosystem.