inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono stated that the government through the Ministry of Agriculture is intensifying a program to create new rice fields covering 3 million hectares to strengthen food security in the face of global challenges and population growth.

"This program is part of a strategic step in facing the threat of a global food crisis and maintaining national stability in the agricultural sector," said Wamentan, Friday (10/25/24).

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture said that with the projected population growth of Indonesia which is estimated to reach 330 million in 2050, the need for food is also increasing rapidly.

According to him, currently the existing agricultural land is increasingly limited due to the conversion of land into industrial and residential areas.

"Therefore, creating new rice fields is a crucial solution to expand the production area of ​​rice, the nation's main food commodity," said the Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

He explained that the program that is a priority of President Prabowo Subianto's government is not only due to domestic factors, but also because global dynamics also play an important role in the urgency of creating these rice fields.

According to Sudaryono, Indonesia as a country with a large population cannot depend on food imports. Independence in the agricultural sector is becoming increasingly vital to face this uncertainty.

Sudaryono also said that this program would be integrated with a modern agricultural program that utilizes technology, such as the use of superior seeds, modern irrigation, and agricultural mechanization.

The current government is also targeting that this rice field printing will certainly create new jobs in the agricultural sector and boost the village economy.

With this strategic step, Indonesia is expected to be able to maintain national food security while being ready to face changes and uncertainties in increasingly complex global conditions.

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