Transmigration Ministry studies Chinese agricultural technology for food security

The Ministry of Transmigration will study agricultural technology and management from China to increase the productivity of transmigration areas while supporting the strengthening of national food security. Vice Minister of Transmigration Viva Yoga Mauladi said participants in the Development Transmigration Areas in Indonesia seminar in Beijing will learn about water and irrigation management, land use optimisation, and the application of agricultural mechanisation to improve production efficiency. “We hope that by studying directly in China, the knowledge can later be developed in several transmigration areas that match the dynamics to serve as role models,” Viva Yoga said at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday. According to him, successful practices applied in China will be adapted to the social and economic conditions and resource potential in Indonesia’s transmigration areas so as to increase agricultural sector productivity. In addition to studying land and irrigation management, participants will also delve into the application of agricultural technology that can improve resource use efficiency while boosting production output. “There are several sectors, for example agricultural development management. We will see how water and irrigation governance works, how to turn land into productive land, then increase productivity through agricultural tools that provide better efficiency,” he said. Viva Yoga said increasing agricultural productivity in transmigration areas is expected not only to strengthen national food security but also to create added value through the development of superior products and increased community income. Besides the agricultural sector, participants will study rural economic development through strengthening linkages between industry and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). According to him, this integration is important to build a stronger value chain so that community production does not stop at primary commodities. “We want to see how industrial processes can connect with MSMEs in villages so that all this learning can provide added value which is then applied in transmigration areas according to the potential and resources of each region,” he said. After returning to Indonesia, the participants will be asked to compile recommendations as material for policy development and pilot projects in transmigration areas. The government hopes the knowledge gained can accelerate the transformation of transmigration areas into regions that are more productive, modern, and capable of supporting national food security. The seminar, taking place from 29 July to 11 August 2026 in Beijing, Yichang, and Xiong’an, is also part of cooperation between Indonesia and China in area development and human resource capacity building. Viva Yoga said all costs for organising the seminar are borne by the Chinese government, so it does not use the State Budget (APBN).