Three HKTI recommendations to encourage farmers to plant soybeans

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Farmers’ Harmony Association (HKTI) has provided three recommendations to prevent farmers from being reluctant to plant soybeans, in order to help the government achieve the soybean self-sufficiency target of 2.62 million tonnes by 2029. “There are three recommendations we can offer to enthuse farmers to plant soybeans, as it has long been considered unprofitable,” said HKTI’s Acting Chairman, retired Major General TNI Bachtiar, in Jakarta on Saturday. According to him, the first intervention the government must make is to prepare an optaker or party that will purchase the farmers’ soybean harvest, providing them with certainty in selling their produce. “If there is certainty, farmers will be enthusiastic about planting soybeans because it will be profitable for them,” he said. Secondly, the government can collaborate with private parties to diversify soybeans. So far, local soybeans have only been used to make tofu and tempeh. He gave the example that this soybean product should be processed into soy milk, which has a high added value. “So far, farmers have been reluctant to plant because it is not promising. This is different from other crops like rice or others,” he said. He stated that currently, soybeans are sold at prices ranging from Rp8,000 to Rp10,000 per kilogram. Meanwhile, if sold in seed form, the selling price becomes Rp15,000 per kilogram or even Rp20,000 per kilogram. “Everything depends on the quality of the soybeans produced,” he said. He expressed optimism that President Prabowo’s soybean self-sufficiency programme targeted for 2029 can be realised, provided everyone works together to succeed in this programme. “If there is certainty for farmers, it will certainly make them prosperous,” he said. He gave the example that currently, his organisation is cooperating with the National Scout Council and the Edge Farmers’ Group of Buperta (KPPB) to plant soybeans on 5 hectares of land, aimed at producing soybeans for seeds. “This harvest will be purchased by the Ministry of Agriculture to be used as seeds,” he said. Thirdly, provide productive assistance to farmers, such as free land for planting, seeds, fertiliser, and guidance to produce a good harvest. “All of this harvest will be handed over to the farmers so that they become more prosperous,” he said. In addition, his organisation is also planting soybeans on 200 hectares of land in Lebak and collaborating with Kadin to plant soybeans on 150 hectares in Yogyakarta. “We want to help the government provide soybean seeds so that the self-sufficiency programme can be realised,” he said. Director of Diverse Nuts and Tubers (AKABI) of the Directorate General of Food Crops, Ministry of Agriculture RI, Dyah Susilokarti, said that currently, her organisation has 37,500 hectares of land ready for soybean planting, but there is indeed a limitation in seeds. “We are ready to cooperate with HKTI and the Scouts. We urge farmers to plant well so that the resulting harvest is of quality,” she said.