InfoSAWIT, PEKANBARU – Efforts to strengthen national food security continue to be intensified in various regions, including Riau Province. The Indonesian Youth Farmers (PTI) of Riau, together with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan) of the Republic of Indonesia, Sudaryono, Riau Police Chief Irjen Pol Muhammad Iqbal, and Acting Governor of Riau Rahman Hadi, held a ceremonial planting of corn and chili in Okura Village, Pekanbaru, on Monday, February 3, 2025.
This event is part of a food security program promoted by President Prabowo Subianto. Several important figures were present at the event, including Kakor Sabhara Baharkam Polri Irjen Pol Drs. Mulya Hasudungan Ritonga, the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Youth Farmers represented by R.S. Suroyo, JR., the Chairman of DPD PTI Riau Muhammad Rahul, SH, and the Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Farmers Association (APKASINDO), Gulat ME Manurung.
In his speech, Muhammad Rahul emphasized that this planting is not merely symbolic but a first step in strengthening the agricultural sector in Riau. “PTI Riau is committed to supporting food security, not only in the food crop sector but also in its downstream processes,” he stated.
The event also featured the inauguration of the DPD PTI Riau management, led by Muhammad Rahul. The inauguration was conducted by the Secretary-General of DPP PTI as a form of legitimization of the organization in supporting sustainable agricultural programs.
Another strategic step taken by PTI Riau is to establish cooperation with APKASINDO, the largest palm oil farmers' association in the world. This collaboration was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DPD PTI Riau Chairman Muhammad Rahul and APKASINDO Chairman Gulat ME Manurung.
“This collaboration is very strategic, especially in empowering smallholder palm oil plantations through intercropping with corn and other food crops,” Gulat stated in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. The agreement includes three main points: optimizing the land for the Smallholder Palm Oil Rejuvenation (PSR) for intercropping, advocating to the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the simplification of PSR requirements, and empowering millennial palm oil farmers through PTI Riau.
This cooperation is expected to serve as a model for synergy between youth farmer organizations and palm oil farmers across Indonesia. Gulat even encouraged APKASINDO in 24 other provinces to follow this initiative. “APKASINDO must synergize with other organizations like PTI, especially with the palm scholarship program provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and BPDPKS every year,” he added.
Additionally, in a previous meeting at the APKASINDO office, Muhammad Rahul also discussed solutions for palm oil farmers whose plantations are still trapped within forest areas. As a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission III, he promised to propose discussions at the parliamentary level to resolve the issues faced by smallholder palm oil plantations through an affirmative approach.
“Food security must start from the regions. We will continue to oversee the implementation of President Prabowo's vision in the smallholder palm oil sector,” he asserted.
With this spirit of collaboration, PTI Riau and APKASINDO hope to create a sustainable agricultural and plantation ecosystem while strengthening national food security from the grassroots level. (T2)
