The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) has chosen the province of South Sumatra to be one of the national food barns in Indonesia. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, during his visit to rice fields in Ogan Komering Ilir Regency (OKI), South Sumatra, on Tuesday, stated that he aims to designate South Sumatra as a national food barn due to its untapped land potential of 470 thousand hectares. He emphasised that this vast potential could be developed to contribute significantly to the national production, which currently stands at 1.5 million tons of rice. If the entire potential is utilised within three years, it could contribute 4 million tons of rice and address Indonesia's import issues. To realise South Sumatra as a national food barn, Minister Amran outlined several strategic steps. The first step involves the identification of all available land in South Sumatra, totaling 470 thousand hectares. Following identification, swift action is required to send equipment for immediate use, determine superior seedlings, and provide fertilisers.

He stressed the need for continuous and sustained efforts to harness this potential, emphasising that it must be an ongoing process, not a one-time initiative. Minister Amran urged collaboration from all parties to transform South Sumatra into a national food barn. "To achieve this, all stakeholders must join hands to build superior agriculture, and, God willing, in 2-3 years, we can achieve self-sufficiency as before," he remarked. This initiative aligns with the government's broader goal of enhancing national food security and reducing dependency on rice imports. Minister Amran's visit and commitment to developing South Sumatra's agricultural potential underscore the strategic importance of the region in contributing to Indonesia's overall food production and self-sufficiency goals.

Source: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/3823083/kementan-jadikan-sumsel-sebagai-lumbung-pangan-nasional