Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — President Prabowo Subianto declared that Indonesia is on track to become the world granary in speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday (Sept. 23).
Prabowo said Indonesia had recorded its highest rice production and grain reserves in history this year, achieving self-sufficiency in rice.
“We have begun exporting rice to countries in need, including providing rice to Palestine,” Prabowo states.
He outlined that Indonesia’s currently building a resilient food supply chain, strengthen farmer productivity, and invest in modern agriculture to secure food supplies for future generations.
“This is to ensure food security for our children and for the children of the world. We are confident that in a few years’ time, Indonesia will be the granary of the world,” he added.
Besides food issues, The president also highlighted the growing threat of climate change, noting that Indonesia was already experiencing its impacts.
“As the world’s largest Island states, we testify that we already experiencing the direct cosequneces od cilmate change, particularly the threat of rising sea levels,” said Prabowo.
To counter the threat, Indonesia has begun constructing a massive 480-kilometer sea wall, a project Prabowo said could take up to 20 years. “We have no other choice. We must begin now,” he stressed.
Therefore, Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2060. He expressed confidence that Indonesia could achieve the target much earlier.
Read Also:
To that end, the government will restore 12 million hectares of degraded forest to reduce deforestation, and create “green jobs” for local communities. The country is also shifting away from fossil fuels based development toward renewable energy sources.
“The planet is under pressure,” Prabowo warned, citing food, energy, and water insecurity as urgent global challenges.
“Our goal is clear: to lift Indonesians out of poverty and make Indonesia as a hub of solutions for food, energy, and water security,” he stated.
(Raidi/Agung)
