Minister calls for universities' role in bolstering food sufficiency

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman called on universities to play an active role in strengthening agricultural downstreaming and national food self-sufficiency through research, innovation, and human resources development.

"We have already proven our food self-sufficiency. The challenge now is maintaining its sustainability and moving toward downstreaming," he said in a statement received on Saturday.

The minister emphasized this during a public lecture at Halu Oleo University (UHO) in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, titled "From Campus to the Nation: Strengthening National Values, Agricultural Innovation, and National Food Self-Sufficiency" on Saturday.

According to Sulaiman, Indonesia's rich natural resources must be paired with superior human resources for the country to become a food- and agroindustry-based superpower.

He added that Indonesia's food self-sufficiency milestones have already gained international recognition.

Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Statistics Indonesia (BPS) show a significant increase in Indonesia's food production.

Indonesia has already achieved self-sufficiency and a surplus in several commodities, including rice, consumer sugar, large chili peppers, bird's eye chilies, corn, cooking oil, chicken, eggs, and shallots.

He further said that the government rice reserves have reached 5.3 million tons as of early June 2016, one of the highest levels in Indonesia's history.

The minister explained that this success means Indonesia is no longer a major market for rice-exporting countries. Having successfully boosted production, the government is now shifting its focus to downstream processing to ensure the added value of agricultural commodities is enjoyed domestically.

He pointed out the vast potential of Southeast Sulawesi, which holds a competitive advantage in plantation commodities and could serve as a hub for developing the processing industry.

Therefore, he invited UHO to bolster research and innovation collaboration with his ministry.

He believes that higher education institutions hold a strategic position in generating the technology and human resources needed to support Indonesia's agricultural transformation.

As an example, he noted that the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) in East Java has successfully developed an alternative biogasoline fuel called Benwit.

Minister Sulaiman underscored that Indonesia's strength lies in three key sectors: food, water, and energy. With abundant natural resources and innovative youth, he is optimistic that Indonesia can become a global economic powerhouse.

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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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