UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., believes Indonesia is able to become a self-dependence nation in animal husbandry and agricultural sectors which will lead to the food sovereignty.
“Our nation is rich of natural and human resources,” said Panut on Monday (29/1) in front of hundreds of farmers and breeders during the Gathering and Discussion on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Plantation: Together We Realize Indonesian Food Sovereignty event which was held at Faculty of Animal Sciences UGM.
Panut did not deny the reality that currently Indonesia still depends on import products to fulfill the community’s needs, both in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other sectors. However, Panut believes food sovereignty can be realized in Indonesia through the synergy and cooperation among various parties.
“The reality shows there are many agricultural and livestock products which are imported from other countries. It cannot be neglected because we have many natural resources, thus we can make our own products,” said Panut.
The domestic production, according to Panut, will reduce our dependence on various import products. Therefore, the efforts to realize domestic production for fulfilling the community’s needs are essential to be made.
“It is the role of Faculty of Animal Sciences UGM and all of us to prove that we are able to fulfill our needs from domestic production, thus we can reduce the national import,” he added.
In addition, strategic planning is required to stop the import. Therefore, this gathering is expected to be a collaborative forum to submit ideas as well as potential mapping of exporting products.
On the other hand, Dean of Faculty of Animal Sciences UGM, Prof. Ali Agus said the gathering and discussion invited hundreds of breeders and farmers from regions in Indonesia. The event was purposely held as a forum to strengthen the network among farmers and breeders in Indonesia.
“The forum is expected to strengthen the institutional network, thus it will encourage the increase of the farmers’ welfare,” said Ali Agus.
As we know, half of the Indonesian population work in the agricultural sector. However, the farmers have yet to gain prosperity by working in this sector. Therefore, this forum is expected to formulate strategic plans for increasing their welfare.