North Sumatra Governor: Food Security is Government's Responsibility Down to Village Level

Medan (ANTARA) - North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution has affirmed that food security is the responsibility of government down to village level, as the issue is fundamental and crucial to society’s needs.

“That is why food security is the responsibility of government at every level,” Bobby said after attending the closing ceremony of the Tani Merdeka North Sumatra-Aceh training and education programme at the North Sumatra Provincial Human Resources Development Agency Hall on Tuesday.

He said that meeting basic needs and ensuring food security is not solely the responsibility of the head of household, but of government from village through to national level.

President Prabowo Subianto, Bobby said, has made food security one of the government’s priority programmes.

The programme must be implemented down to the lowest levels and understood by the public.

“Our task is to ensure the President’s programme is implemented, reaches the lowest levels, and is understood,” he said.

The Governor also assessed that the various programmes of President Prabowo, including in the agricultural sector, are running well and showing results, such as the absorption of harvests.

Data from state logistics firm Perum Bulog as of 24 July 2026 shows it has absorbed 3.5 million tonnes of rice equivalent from domestic farmers’ harvests, or around 87 per cent of the national target of 4 million tonnes.

“Today we see the programmes carried out by the President are all aligned, including in agriculture. We know from the data how the absorption from farmers today is already very good,” Bobby said.

He also invited Tani Merdeka to continue strengthening collaboration with the North Sumatra Provincial Government, particularly in implementing various agricultural sector programmes.

“Later, with Tani Merdeka, perhaps we can collaborate on the programmes. Because we are confident they have all the experts there,” Bobby said.

The Chair of the Tani Merdeka North Sumatra Regional Board, Gusmiyadi, expressed appreciation to Governor Bobby Nasution for his support of the agricultural sector.

He also backed the application of agricultural and livestock zoning in North Sumatra, viewing it as a strategic step for developing the region’s food sector.

He noted that North Sumatra failed to host the 2029 National Farmers and Fishermen Week, and that instead North Sumatra will host a meeting of farmers from across Indonesia.

“We will ensure North Sumatra becomes the base for consolidating farmers throughout Indonesia,” Gusmiyadi said.