Titiek Soeharto Urges Replication of Nusakambangan Food Security Programme

House of Representatives Commission IV Chair Siti Hediati Hariyadi, known as Titiek Soeharto, has called for the food security programme run by the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections (Imipas) on Nusakambangan Island, Cilacap, Central Java, to be replicated elsewhere. During a working visit on Saturday, Titiek expressed appreciation for the ministry’s efforts to boost food security by involving inmates. “On behalf of Commission IV, I extend my deepest gratitude and highest appreciation to the Minister and the ranks of the Ministry of Imipas. Hopefully, this effort can be emulated and duplicated in other places,” she said. The legislator, who focuses on agriculture, highlighted the ministry’s move to convert idle land into productive areas, including vaname shrimp ponds, eel farms, corn and chilli fields, fruit orchards, and goat and cattle breeding. According to Titiek, the food security programme is beneficial not only economically but also for the personal development of the inmates. On Nusakambangan, inmates who are no longer considered high-risk are included in the programme. Those involved are prisoners who have served at least half of their sentence and passed an assessment. She noted that the skills gained during the programme could be used by inmates for their livelihoods after reintegrating into society. Moreover, in addition to acquiring skills, the inmates also receive a premium for their work. “That is what is extraordinary here,” Titiek remarked. She also highlighted the transformation of Nusakambangan from a fearsome isolation island into a food security centre, calling Minister Agus Andrianto’s policy a creative step. “If only the cabinet were filled with people like Mr Agus, perhaps the President (Prabowo Subianto) could sleep soundly,” she said. She added that the transformation on Nusakambangan Island proves that food security can be pursued in any sector, including a ministry dealing with corrections. “It is also a whip for ministries related to food security to be more diligent in achieving what the President and all of us desire,” Titiek stated. She concluded that what has been achieved on Nusakambangan can serve as an example for others. “If Nusakambangan can be like this, what about other places? Actually, this all comes down to our will. Do we want to produce these food items? If the officials are lazy, they just sit around and nothing like this will happen,” she said. Meanwhile, Minister Agus affirmed his commitment to continuously deliver improvements in food security efforts within the Ministry of Imipas.