Irsyan Hasyim (Kontributor), Jakarta – Indonesian Ministry of Forestry will prepare a social forestry program to support the food self-sufficiency program and the free nutritious meal program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that there are already 8 million hectares of land that have been distributed for the social forestry program, and there are still 7 million hectares of land that can still be utilized.
"Out of these 8 million hectares, intensification is needed, as this 8 million area can be connected with the National Nutrition Agency's working areas," said Raja Juli after meeting with the Head of the National Nutrition Agency in Jakarta, Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
According to him, synergy with the National Nutrition Agency can supply nutritious food for pregnant and breastfeeding women, toddlers, and school children. He also mentioned that this synergy could increase economic turnover for farmers working on social forestry land.
"From social forestry, products like milk can be locally produced and distributed to the National Nutrition Agency's working units, there are also fruits and rice, so the future off-taker can be from the National Nutrition Agency, so that what becomes Mr. Prabowo's vision will run smoothly with good cooperation," he said.
At the same occasion, Head of the National Nutrition Agency Dadan Hindayana welcomed the potential cooperation with the Ministry of Forestry. According to him, 23 percent of Indonesia's land area belongs to the Ministry of Forestry. "There is a lot of potential to produce food there. Because it will be utilized for social forestry, opened for optimization and productivity," he revealed.
According to Dadan, the National Nutrition Agency is ready to absorb the production results from the social forestry program. "That's what we discussed earlier. We have seen several very productive social forestry areas, and we will support it by opening service units there," he said.
The social forestry areas being explored at the initial stage, according to Dadan, are Lumajang and Lembang. "We will create a pilot project together so hopefully it can be developed in the future," he said.