The Sun, Guardian of Food Self-Sufficiency

The sun is the only one that never stops giving, always faithfully radiating its energy to be utilised.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Preparations to face the arrival of El Niño must be carried out immediately so that its impacts do not spread heavily. When it occurs, what is felt first is not just the heat, but the loss of water from the soil.

Rainfall decreases, rivers shrink, and soil moisture drops drastically. At the same time, the energy crisis due to the Gulf War makes the cost of water pumps increase, fertiliser distribution is disrupted, and crops will not grow optimally. Thus, food production will be pressured.

At this point, we face a multi-crisis: water scarcity, expensive energy, and threatened food supplies.

However, there is one energy source that never stops working: the sun.

So far, solar energy has more often been positioned merely as a source of electricity. In fact, in the agricultural sector, its role is far more strategic, namely as the driver of the food system.

Through the installation of solar panels on agricultural land, this energy can be utilised directly to support various production activities, from water provision to post-harvest handling.

First, solar energy can power water pumps for irrigation without relying on fossil fuels. In El Niño conditions, when water needs increase, this system becomes a lifesaver. Water can be pumped consistently without being burdened by high operational costs.

Second, solar energy supports the drying of harvest yields. For commodities such as rice, corn, and coffee, suboptimal drying often becomes a source of yield loss. With solar-based drying systems, product quality can be maintained, while also reducing farmers’ losses.

Third, solar energy enables cold storage in areas that have previously been difficult to reach with electricity. This is important for preserving the freshness of horticultural and fishery products, as well as reducing post-harvest losses.

Forgotten land