Filda C. Yusgiantoro, Chairperson of the Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center (PYC), recently underscored the critical role of good governance in the government’s ambitious plan to develop 500,000 hectares of new agricultural land. This extensive land opening initiative aims to bolster national food security. She emphasized that such a significant policy must strictly adhere to sustainability principles, ensuring positive impacts for both farmers and the surrounding communities.
“We hope that everything aligns seamlessly, and this plan genuinely contributes to the welfare of local communities,” Filda stated following a recent PYC Food Security Dialogue. She further stressed the importance of diligently monitoring the farmer welfare index, asserting that the new land opening must tangibly improve the livelihoods of farmers and ensure the land’s productivity benefits a broader segment of society.
This national drive for expanded agricultural land follows a direct instruction from President Prabowo Subianto. He tasked relevant ministries with initiating the land opening to support comprehensive food fulfillment, including achieving rice self-sufficiency and fostering the growth of cattle farming.
Prioritizing Sustainability Aspects
Elaborating on this crucial point, Filda reiterated that sustainability must remain the government’s paramount concern throughout the implementation of this program. This encompasses both environmental stewardship and social equity.
“Everything must be managed with good governance,” she affirmed. “For instance, if land is opened for agriculture, its sustainability and its impact on society must be thoroughly evaluated. Robust good governance is absolutely essential for such undertakings.”
Filda also issued a cautionary reminder: historical developments in both the energy and food sectors have frequently resulted in significant environmental strain. Therefore, she advocated for a comprehensive evaluation process to be undertaken now, ensuring that past mistakes are not repeated in this new endeavor.
As a key recommendation, Filda strongly emphasized the importance of robust cross-agency coordination. She posited that food policy should not operate in isolation but must be synergized effectively with energy and water policies, forming a cohesive and integrated national security strategy.
“Hopefully, these three crucial areas can communicate and collaborate closely,” she concluded, underscoring the interconnectedness required for genuine and lasting success.
Summary
Filda C. Yusgiantoro, Chairperson of the Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center (PYC), recently highlighted the critical importance of good governance and sustainability principles for the government’s plan to develop 500,000 hectares of new agricultural land. This initiative, driven by President Prabowo Subianto, aims to bolster national food security, including achieving rice self-sufficiency and fostering cattle farming. Filda underscored the need for the project to genuinely improve farmer livelihoods and ensure the land’s productivity benefits a broader segment of society.
She further emphasized that sustainability, encompassing environmental stewardship and social equity, must be paramount throughout the program’s implementation to avoid past environmental mistakes. Filda also advocated for robust cross-agency coordination, integrating food policy with energy and water policies to form a cohesive and integrated national security strategy for lasting success.
