Scouts and HKTI build national food security through soybean planting
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Scout Council of the Scout Movement, together with the Indonesian Farmers’ Harmony Association (HKTI), is contributing to building the nation’s food security through a soybean planting programme, a commodity that is still heavily imported at present.
“Today, we harvested the first soybeans planted in the demonstration plot at Buperta Cibubur, covering 5 hectares, with yields of 2 to 3 tons per hectare,” said the Secretary General of the National Scout Council, Retired Major General TNI Bachtiar, accompanied by Petrus Tjandra, Chairman of the Soybean Division of the HKTI Central Board, in Jakarta on Saturday.
He stated that the harvest will be used as seeds to be certified by the Ministry of Agriculture to meet seed requirements.
They have also planted soybeans on 200 hectares of land in the Lebak area and planted with Kadin on 150 hectares in Yogyakarta.
He added that in the Buperta area, they are collaborating with the Buperta Edge Farmers’ Group (KPPB) by providing land and soybean seeds.
In addition, farmers receive fertiliser assistance and guidance, and the harvest is directly purchased by the Ministry of Agriculture.
“The results are entirely for the farmers so that they become more prosperous and motivated to plant soybeans,” he said.
He noted that soybeans are the most imported commodity from the United States, and currently, soybean seeds in Indonesia are still insufficient.
“We want to help the government build food security so that we can achieve soybean self-sufficiency in line with President Prabowo’s directives,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dyah Susilokarti, Director of Various Beans and Tubers (AKABI) at the Directorate General of Food Crops, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, targets reducing soybean imports gradually by 2029 and achieving self-sufficiency.
According to her, they currently have 37,500 hectares of land planted with soybeans this year, and indeed, soybean seeds are still lacking at present.
She said this programme is very helpful, and of course, good seeds are desired. She urged farmers to produce quality soybean harvests by planting properly.
“Good planting will produce a good harvest,” she said.
Meanwhile, Maman Amrustam, Chairman of the Buperta Edge Farmers’ Group (KPPB), admitted to being helped by this programme because the soybean harvest already has a buyer.
“We are assisted with seeds and land that is not rented, as well as fertiliser assistance and guidance. Now we just wait for the results; we are grateful,” he said.
He admitted that this is the first time planting soybeans, as is the case with the farmers in his group. According to him, so far there have been no obstacles and it has gone well.
“We are happy because with one planting, we can immediately harvest and there are no disturbances,” he said.