Simeulue Regency urges residents to utilise idle land for farming

Banda Aceh – The Simeulue Regency Government, through the Department of Agriculture and Food Security (Distanpan), is urging residents to utilise idle land for farming by cultivating fast-growing crops to enhance food security in the island district of Aceh Province.

Samsuar, head of the Simeulue Department of Agriculture and Food Security, said there are 2,500 hectares of idle land in Simeulue. The idle land could support the rapid-crop planting programme launched by the regional government.

‘If 2,500 hectares of idle land are utilised for the rapid-crop planting programme, it can support the food security programme and the improvement of the community economy while also controlling inflation on Simeulue Island,’ he said when contacted from Banda Aceh.

He noted that the fast-crop planting programme involves cultivating idle land with horticulture, including vegetables, pulses, chillies, cucumbers, and other crops with economic value.

Samsuar said the fast-crop planting programme is a strategic step by the local government to strengthen the agricultural sector while creating opportunities to raise community incomes.

‘The utilisation of idle land by planting fast-growing crops is hoped to become a source of the people’s economy. And this could be a solution to poverty alleviation in Simeulue Regency,’ Samsuar said.

Meanwhile, Regent Mohammad Nasrun Mikaris said the fast-crop planting programme is part of the local government’s commitment to promoting economic development based on local potential.

‘We hope to accelerate the welfare of the people and reduce poverty and inflation through this fast-crop planting programme,’ said Muhammad Nasrun Mikaris.

According to him, the programme could supply raw material for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. Therefore, the local government is encouraging the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) in Simeulue to utilise the harvest from the programme.

‘We hope the local food from the fast-crop planting programme can be used for the MBG programme, meaning there is no longer a need to import from outside Simeulue,’ said Muhammad Nasrun Mikaris.

Simeulue Regency is the outermost archipelago region in Aceh Province. Simeulue Island lies in the Indian Ocean about 180 nautical miles from the western coast of Sumatra.

Simeulue Regency was carved out from West Aceh Regency in 1999. The regency comprises 10 districts (kecamatan) with 138 villages (gampong) inhabited by around 96,000 people.