Just a few days past, in the grand halls of the Djakarta Theater in Jakarta, the esteemed presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto, unveiled his master plan for enhancing food production in a captivating discourse with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin). When probed about his intentions to bolster food production and achieve food self-sufficiency, Prabowo stressed the significance of establishing ‘food estates’ or agricultural hubs.
He underscored the pivotal role of the ‘food estate’ concept, originally conceived by Pak Ibnu Sutowo nearly five decades ago, as a crucial avenue to tackle food security concerns in Indonesia. According to Prabowo, the nation must set up expansive ‘food estates’ to bolster local farmers and cultivate prosperity within the agricultural domain. During the conversation, he also underscored the urgency of modernizing farming techniques to elevate farmers’ income and allure the younger generation to embark on a career in agriculture.
In firm support of his stance, Prabowo recounted his interaction with farmers in Germany, where he witnessed a glaring contrast in the livelihood of farmers. He narrated the German farmers’ routine of toiling in the fields by day and relishing leisure activities in the evening, underscoring the necessity to establish an equally enticing environment for the youth to pursue farming in Indonesia.
Prabowo’s vision for amplifying food production through the establishment of ‘food estates’ aligns with his overarching aspiration of rejuvenating the agricultural sector and guaranteeing food security for the nation. He underscored the need to foster an environment that inspires the younger generation to embrace farming as a sustainable and lucrative career path.
His standpoint presents a novel approach to grappling with food production challenges and captivating the youth to partake in the agricultural realm. By championing the concept of ‘food estates’ and advocating for modernization, Prabowo envisions a future where Indonesian agriculture thrives, and the nation attains self-sufficiency in food production.
This dialogue shines a light on Prabowo’s innovative strategies and unwavering dedication to uplifting Indonesia’s agricultural landscape, rendering agriculture an enticing and prosperous sector for the forthcoming generations. With a keen focus on ‘food estates’ and the modernization of farming practices, Prabowo’s vision proffers a promising perspective for the future of agriculture in Indonesia.
