Not Fake, DPR Now Calls Ministry of Agriculture Mark Up Data Food Estate

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Commission IV of the DPR no longer calls the food barn project, aka the food estate, which President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is currently intensifying a bogus project.

“I also explain, there is no such thing as a fake food estate. What is data is marked up by the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) as a result of production from food estates. And this has nothing to do with other ministries. I can only partner with my ministry, namely the Ministry of Agriculture. Agriculture,” said the Head of Commission IV DPR Sudin when opening the Hearing Meeting (RDP) with Echelon I of the Ministry of Agriculture, Tuesday (24/1/2023).

“I am also intrigued to read in the media. Fake food estate, there is no fake food estate. If it is fake, it means there is no food estate. But this has a food estate. What is not quite right is the report on production,” he added.

Even so, Commission IV of the DPR emphasized that they would still form working committees (panja) related to food estates in various regions.

“I emphasize again, there is no fake food estate. There is invalid data from the Ministry of Agriculture. And not from other ministries because I have never interfered in matters that are not my work partners,” said Sudin.

Meanwhile, PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono emphasized that the food estate project had produced results. He also dismissed the DPR’s statement that the project was a failure, aka it contained false data.

“No no… the one in Dadahup, we have planted with agriculture and the results will be in the next harvest. The President wants to go there. There are 4.8 tons of hectares in Dadahup. So it’s just planting now because the transmigrants have returned. So all that’s left is the workforce for Nanem,” said Basuki.

Meanwhile, Member of Commission IV DPR RI Daniel Johan previously said that currently the process of establishing a special committee (pansus) to investigate the food estate project is starting.

“From the start we have been critical of this food estate plan. Because there was no grand design that was explained to Commission IV. However, the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministry of Agriculture) is confident in carrying out food estates in various regions on a large scale,” he told CNBC Indonesia, quoted Saturday ( 21/1/2023).

For that, he said, Commission IV will form a Special Committee.

“It has started (the process of forming the Special Committee) for a food estate,” said Daniel Johan.

Food Estate Chronology Called Fake

As is known, the food estate is a project that is being accelerated by President Jokowi, and is one of the 2020-2024 National Strategic Programs.

The government determines the division of tasks across sectors for the 2021-2023 period. The division of tasks starts from the Ministry of Agriculture, whose role is to provide production facilities and escort cultivation.

Then, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has the role of rehabilitating and improving irrigation networks, while the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Kemendesa PDTT) is tasked with revitalizing the existing transmigration land.

Furthermore, there is the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Ministry of Environment and Forestry) conducting conservation and rehabilitation of peatlands. Meanwhile, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (Ministry of BUMN) is tasked with realizing corporations, designing detailed spatial plans (RDRT), land validation and certification.

When reviewing the location of the food estate village of Desa Belanti Siam, Pulang Pisau. Accompanied by Minister of Agriculture (Minister of Agriculture) Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Minister of Defense Prabowo, Minister of PUPR Basuki, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko and Governor of Central Kalimantan Sugianto Sabran in 2020, Jokowi stated that the Minister of Agriculture was responsible for food estate production. By synergizing with other ministries.

“In this food estate, it’s not just production activities, it involves SOEs in processing to packaging. SOEs are responsible for building the industry,” Jokowi said as quoted from the Ministry of Agriculture’s official website, Tuesday (24/1/2023).

Photo: NTT Food Estate (PUPR) NTT Food Estate (PUPR)

During a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture, Commission IV highlighted the projects which are spread across Kalimantan, Sumatra, NTT and Papua.

And, during a work meeting (raker) with the Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo on Monday (16/1/2023), the Sub-Department again targeted the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the food estate project. In fact, he said, his party was planning to form a special committee (Pansus) for the food estate program.

“The thing that needs attention is that there are still BPK findings at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) which can be interpreted as there are still problematic programs and activities. Some even failed and did not reach the target. For example, food estates in several places,” said Sudin when opening the Working Meeting with Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Monday (16/1/2023).

“We, Commission IV, have prepared a Panja Food Estate. In fact, some of our friends have suggested forming a Special Committee. Because there is a lot of fake data there,” added Sudin.

For this reason, he added, a thorough evaluation of the Ministry of Agriculture’s performance is needed.

Responding to this, the Minister of Agriculture Syahrul said, to see the results of the program requires a long process. This is because in the agricultural sector there are constraints or natural factors that affect agricultural production.

“It’s not like turning a hand. Dealing with land, dealing with pests, dealing with the weather, dealing with people. It takes patience to deal with it,” he said when met at the DPR RI Jakarta building, Monday (16/1).

The Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto also opened his voice about this. Indeed, Jokowi has involved the Ministry of Defense in the food estate project since 2020.

Prabowo said the project, which was being intensified by the government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), was continuing.

“Food estate is also implemented,” said Prabowo during the 2023 Defense Ministry Leadership Meeting in Jakarta, quoted on Thursday (19/1/2023).

The reason, food is part of the defense of a region. The former TNI Commander also emphasized that food availability is the key to the stability of a country.

“Yes, I think we will see later, but from the AD (statutes of association) we have the term. I saw earlier, yesterday we assessed that we are capable enough to maintain stability. How many years (food estate lasts)? Yes, as long as the Republic is standing,” he said.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(dce/dce)