Indonesia wants to collaborate with Taiwan as it works to boost its agricultural and livestock industries, and welcomes Taiwanese investment, said Prihasto Setyanto, director-general of horticulture at the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture.
In an interview with the Central News Agency, Setyanto, who has visited Taiwan twice, expressed his admiration for Taiwan’s agricultural progress and advanced laboratory equipment.
He said that as Indonesia works toward being self-sufficient in food production, the nation welcomes foreign investment, including from Taiwan.
Photo: CNA
Setyanto said Indonesia is implementing a “free lunch for students” policy, an initiative led by Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto to combat child malnutrition.
To achieve this goal, Indonesia plans to expand its agricultural and livestock sectors, integrating advanced technologies including organic cultivation and drones.
Setyanto cited the example of imported milk, noting that Indonesia imports about 90 to 95 percent of its milk, but wants to develop domestic production.
“The purpose of these programs is to reduce stunting and invest in our people,” he said.
Setyanto also expressed satisfaction with an Indonesian internship program, which has sent nearly 100 young people to Taiwan’s farms and fisheries annually since 2019, saying he believes it enhances skills and knowledge transfers.
However, Setyanto said that land available for agricultural purposes on Java island, Indonesia’s densely populated economic hub, is almost fully utilized.
To maximize land utilization and achieve food self-sufficiency, the island needs to focus on intensive farming, through multicrop cultivation and liberal use of fertilizers, he said.
Reflecting on Taiwan’s expertise, Setyanto also expressed the hope that Taiwan could help Indonesia’s seed industry improve.
Despite all the challenges, Setyanto said he remains optimistic about Indonesia’s ability to meet its food demands due to ample available land in regions such as Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.
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