Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta The Indonesian Military (TNI) planned to establish several territorial infantry battalions in Kalimantan, including in Central and South Kalimantan, to bolster food sovereignty and self-sufficiency in food production, part of a larger government initiative under President Prabowo Subianto's administration.

Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak revealed on Sunday (15/12/2024) that the battalions will focus on agricultural projects, particularly in areas like Wanam and Kurik in Papua, which are being developed as food production hubs. 

These battalions will be key in supporting large-scale food production, as the work requires substantial manpower beyond the capabilities of local village officers (Babinsa), according to antaranews.com.

The new battalions will be tasked with managing large tracts of land, potentially in the hundreds of thousands of hectares, to help Indonesia achieve its food security goals. 

General Maruli emphasized that a single Babinsa officer would be unable to manage such vast areas, making it necessary to deploy battalions for effective implementation.

The initiative follows the establishment of five similar battalions in Papua, which began operations in October 2024. These battalions, under military command, specialize in agricultural production and construction to support local food production.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)