First Sugarcane Planting in Merauke, President: Government Focuses on Developing Food Security
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) accompanied by Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo conducted the first sugarcane planting at PT Global Papua Abadi, Sermayam Village, Tanah Miring District, Merauke Regency, South Papua, on Tuesday (23/07/2024). The Head of State said that this activity is a strategic step in responding to the global food crisis triggered by extreme climate change.
“Yes, we know that the world is now facing a food crisis due to climate change, long hot days, long dry days, heat waves, and food independence, food security, food sovereignty must be a concentration,” the President said in his statement to the media after the planting.
The President also emphasised the government’s commitment to support sustainable initiatives in agriculture and the environment. Not only the current administration, the government of President-elect Prabowo Subianto will also focus on food and energy.
“It has been tried here, not only once or twice but unsuccessfully. But now, in my opinion, if I see from the beginning of seeding with tissue culture, planting several varieties, the results are also visible, how many tonnes have been checked, everything has been scientifically carried out,” said the President.
On the occasion, the President also inspected a number of facilities and infrastructure in the company, including tissue culture laboratories, sugarcane nurseries, sugarcane plantations, and conservation plant nurseries. The President is also optimistic about making Indonesia a food barn in Merauke and surrounding areas, with production potential such as rice, corn, and sugar cane for sugar and bioethanol.
“If you look at the flat field here, water is also abundant, I think it is indeed an opportunity to make Indonesia a food barn in Merauke and its surroundings,” said the President.
President Jokowi also welcomed the company’s good intentions in initiating efforts to care for the environment in a sustainable manner. One of them is by creating a nursery that produces seeds and endemic Papuan plants to rehabilitate existing forests.
“So the food can be obtained, the green energy can be obtained, but also the forest is not destroyed,” said the President.
Also accompanying the President and Ibu Iriana during the inspection were Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, Commander of the Indonesian National Defence Forces General Agus Subiyanto, Pj. South Papua Governor Apolo Safanlo, and Merauke Regent Romanus Mbaraka. (BPMI SETPRES/AIT)
