InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – In an effort to strengthen national food and energy security, the Young Farmers and the Association of Indonesian Farmers, Entrepreneurs and Palm Oil Plantations (GAPERKASINDO) agreed to collaborate to support the development of dryland rice and the acceleration of rejuvenation of smallholder oil palms. This agreement was reached in a meeting held in the TB Simatupang area, South Jakarta.
This step is in line with the policy direction of President Prabowo Subianto's government which makes food security a top priority. Upland rice is seen as an effective strategy to increase national rice production, especially in rainfed areas. On the other hand, increasing crude palm oil (CPO) production is crucial to support the biodiesel program, which requires accelerated rejuvenation of people's oil palm plantations.
In the meeting, the two organizations agreed on an ambitious target: 40,000 hectares of land for upland rice development and 8,000 hectares for smallholder oil palm rejuvenation. The project will involve comprehensive data collection of Prospective Farmers and Prospective Lands (CPCL) and active coordination with local agricultural offices.
Charles Lumbantoruan, Head of the Young Farmers Cooperation Division, emphasized the importance of this collaboration. "Through this collaboration, we want to help accelerate food self-sufficiency, especially rice. We will identify potential land and help prepare its administration so that it can access government assistance, or alternatively, funding from the private sector and banking," said Charles in his statement to InfoSAWIT, Thursday (22/5/2025).
In addition, Pemuda Tani also wants to involve the younger generation in the agricultural sector. "We want to attract young people to see this sector as an opportunity, not a burden. Food security cannot be separated from the role of the millennial generation," Charles added.
From GAPERKASINDO's side, General Chairman Hasyari Nasution emphasized the importance of technical assistance and provision of production facilities. "We will develop a management model that ensures farmers profit sustainably. Innovation, especially in the provision of fertilizers and plant nutrients, must be prioritized so that the results are optimal," he said.
Hasyari expressed the need for long-term solutions to classic problems such as fertilizer shortages. According to him, innovative approaches are essential to increase productivity without burdening farmers.
In line with that, the General Chairperson of Pemuda Tani, Budisatrio Djiwandono, emphasized his commitment to the national food issue. "The food issue is a matter of independence and survival. Pemuda Tani will always support any breakthrough to realize food security. Upland rice is one of the key strategies that we need to push together," he said. (T2)
