DEPUTY Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan) Sudaryono invited oil palm farmers in Indonesia to use their plantation land to intercrop upland rice. This step is expected to increase national food productivity and support the government’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency as initiated by President Prabowo Subianto.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono or who is familiarly called Mas Dar explained that Indonesia has around 17 million hectares of oil palm plantations. One strategy to increase food production is to utilize oil palm land that is currently under a rejuvenation program to plant upland rice, a type of rice that can be planted outside of paddy fields.
“Our raw rice field land is 7.4 million hectares, while our oil palm plantation land is 17 million hectares. If the palm oil is already tall, we can’t plant it below. However, if we are replanting it, we can plant it massively,” said Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono in the activity. The 20th Indonesian Palm Oil Conference and Price Outlook 2025 took place in Nusa Dua Bali, Thursday, November 7 2024.
According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, there are two main benefits for oil palm farmers who use upland rice intercropping. First, farmers can gain additional profits because upland rice can be planted in a short time.
Second, upland rice is a strategic food commodity that is widely needed by society, which will strengthen national food security.
“Rice, corn, soybeans and horticulture are food commodities that are needed by millions of people every day. By utilizing oil palm land for intercropping, we not only increase food production, but also support food self-sufficiency,” he added.
Furthermore, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono explained that this intercropping program will also reduce Indonesia’s dependence on food imports, because by maximizing the potential of oil palm land, Indonesia can increase domestic food production.
“By utilizing oil palm land, we can increase food supplies for domestic needs. This is also part of our efforts to reduce dependence on imports,” said this farmer’s son from Grobogan, Central Java.
To support the implementation of this program, the Ministry of Agriculture is also accelerating data collection for business actors who want to be involved in developing upland rice intercropping on oil palm land. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono said that the government would provide guidance for palm oil entrepreneurs who collaborate with his party to encourage this program.
“Currently, we are encouraging palm oil entrepreneurs and other business actors to speed up data collection and collaborate in developing oil palm land to be more productive, including for planting other food commodities,” he said.
As part of efforts to increase national food production, the Ministry of Agriculture is also intensifying the planting area expansion (PAT) program which includes optimizing swamp land, pumping and intercropping upland rice on oil palm plantations. All of this aims to strengthen food security in the face of a potential global food crisis.
With these various initiatives, the government hopes that Indonesia’s agricultural sector can be more sustainable, increase food security, and help Indonesia achieve food self-sufficiency in the next few years. (RO/Z-2)
#Increasing #Food #Security #Deputy #Minister #Agriculture #Sudaryono #Invites #Palm #Oil #Farmers #Plant #Upland #Rice
**Interview with Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono on Rice Paddy Expansion and Intercropping Initiatives**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Deputy Minister Sudaryono. Indonesia’s Agricultural Ministry is aiming to expand rice paddy by 1.78 million hectares this year. Can you explain the motivation behind this ambitious plan?
**Deputy Minister Sudaryono:** Thank you for having me. The primary motivation for expanding rice paddy is to bolster our national food production, align with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision for food self-sufficiency, and address the growing food security concerns in our nation. With our population continuing to rise, it’s crucial that we produce enough local food to meet demand.
**Interviewer:** That’s a significant undertaking. You’ve also suggested an innovative approach involving oil palm farmers. Can you elaborate on how intercropping upland rice can benefit both farmers and the country as a whole?
**Deputy Minister Sudaryono:** Absolutely. Indonesia has around 17 million hectares of oil palm plantations. By allowing oil palm farmers to intercrop upland rice, we can utilize land that’s currently being rejuvenated for the palm oil industry. This not only maximizes land use but also helps farmers gain additional income quickly since upland rice has a shorter growth cycle.
**Interviewer:** That’s interesting. What are the broader implications of this intercropping initiative for Indonesia’s food security?
**Deputy Minister Sudaryono:** Intercropping upland rice serves a dual purpose. First, it helps diversify and secure our food supply, which is vital as rice, corn, and soybeans are staples for many Indonesians. Second, this initiative reduces our reliance on food imports by enhancing domestic food production, which is essential for building a resilient agricultural sector.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like a win-win scenario. What steps will you take to encourage and support palm oil farmers in implementing this intercropping strategy?
**Deputy Minister Sudaryono:** We intend to provide technical assistance and resources to these farmers to facilitate the transition. Workshops and training sessions will help them understand the benefits and methods of intercropping, while government initiatives will support access to seeds and agricultural technology. Our goal is to create a sustainable system that increases productivity across the board.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Deputy Minister Sudaryono. Your insights into these agricultural strategies are invaluable. It seems this approach could play a significant role in securing Indonesia’s food future.
**Deputy Minister Sudaryono:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these important initiatives. Together, we can improve food security and foster a thriving agricultural economy in Indonesia.
