The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) is strengthening national food security through the establishment of Food Brigades that focus on optimising land and increasing rice production to support the achievement of self-sufficiency targets in a sustainable manner.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman said the Ministry continues to focus on increasing food production, especially rice, to realise the food self-sufficiency target.
‘One of the efforts to achieve the food self-sufficiency target is the optimisation of agricultural land through the establishment of the Food Brigade,’ he said after the opening of training for the Food Brigade as confirmed in Jakarta on Friday.
He said the Food Brigade would be at the forefront in managing and optimising agricultural land in a modern, professional and skilled manner by running business-oriented businesses that generate income and profits.
Amran said through the Food Brigade, Ministry of Agriculture seeks to strengthen national food security and realise food self-sufficiency by increasing agricultural productivity through the application of modern technology and involving the younger generation.
The Food Brigade manages agricultural land in a structured manner, with the scale of management reaching around 200 hectares per brigade. The programme also includes the optimal management of swampland and the printing of people’s rice fields, and integrates a community-based approach with advanced technology.
In addition, Food Brigades are provided with support in the form of agricultural tools and machinery, training, as well as access to superior seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.
‘This programme not only increases national food production but also creates a modern agribusiness ecosystem that empowers the younger generation,’ he said.
According to him, one of the keys to success in increasing food production is the utilisation of agricultural tools and machinery (alsintan), which helps speed up the process of tillage, planting, and harvesting.
‘Alsintan is not only a tool, but also a symbol of agricultural modernisation that supports sustainability and national food security. With the help of alsintan, the Food Brigade can achieve the food self-sufficiency target by accelerating tillage, planting, and harvesting simultaneously,’ said Amran.
On the same occasion, Head of the Agricultural Extension and Human Resource Development Agency (BPPSDMP) of the Ministry of Agriculture Idha Widi Arsanti said that her office targets the establishment of 4,224 Food Brigades.
Currently, there are 1,900 Food Brigades in 16 provinces, 1,779 in 2024 and 121 in 2025.
‘Currently, the Food Brigades that have been operating reach 1,154 BPs with a land coverage of 230,800 hectares spread across 12 provinces,’ said Santi.
With the number of Food Brigades and the area of land covered by the Food Brigades, the Food Brigades have received 2,347 units of agricultural tools and machinery, including 647 units of 4-wheel tractors.
Source ; Antara