Jakarta, TNI AU Teams Up to Manage Halim Perdanakusuma Rice Fields
Reported by Mustaqim Amna | Translated by Nugroho Adibrata
Jakarta Provincial Government made collaboratin with Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU), which owns the 6.2 hectares of rice fields at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in terms of realizing food security through the development of rice farming businesses.
This is also a testament to the concern, seriousness and tenacity of the farmers in the Halim Perdanakusuma rice fields
This important moment was realized in the 2020 Rice Harvest - Food Security Program attended by Jakarta Vice Governor Ahmad Riza Patria, with strict health protocols, on Wednesday (11/11).
He expressed it was very important, as the agricultural sector in Jakarta, especially paddy rice fields, currently had relatively limited land. Based on the Maritime, Fishery and Food Security Agency's data, there were only 414 hectares of rice fields in the capital.
Anies Wants Students to Visit Rice Field in Jakarta"On behalf of the city government, I express my sincere appreciation to TNI AU that develops rice farming business. This is also a testament to the concern, seriousness and tenacity of the farmers in the Halim Perdanakusuma rice fields," he explained, as quoted by Jakarta PPID's press release.
According to him, with the rice harvest, it could contribute to the production of dried paddy and the rice needs of the Jakarta population, which was estimated to be on average 0.3 kg/day, especially amid the pandemic and rainy season characterized by the La Nina phenomenon.
"Therefore we must ensure to increase the intensification and extensification of farmers, pay attention to the agricultural community who live every day working to plant rice and so on," he asserted.
He also encouraged the use of rice fields at the airport to be used as agro-tourism, especially for school-age children. He then called on the agency to design in more detail the plans for agro-tourism on that land.
"The children who come can plant and harvest rice, plant chili and banana tree, as well as see the fish development process. Even we also intend to provide a place for seeds. Thus we can teach them to always be grateful to return to nature, surely we will make the concept," he explained.
In that occasion, it was also attended by the Air Force Operational Command I Commander, Marsma Tri Wibowo Budi Santoso; Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base Commander, Marsma Purwoko Aji Prabowo; Jakarta Maritime, Fishery and Food Security Agency Acting Head, Suharini Eliawati; and East Jakarta Deputy Mayor, Hendra Hidayat; as well as other ranks of city government.
