Fajarasia.co – Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, started her second working visit to North Sumatra by sowing rice seeds in Toba Regency. The sowing of rice seeds was carried out simultaneously to inaugurate the Twice Planting-Twice Harvest Program to encourage food security in Indonesia.
Puan’s presence in Toba Regency, Friday (2/9/2022), received an extraordinary response from the residents. Along the way to the location, the community welcomed Puan’s arrival while singing.
“Who owns Mbak Puan, who owns Mbak Puan, we all own,” the resident hummed.
There were also PUMA volunteers (Puan Maharani) lined up on the roadside shouting the slogans of the President.
The lady who came accompanied by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission V Lasarus and the Deputy Chair of Commission X of the House of Representatives Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti carried out the sowing of rice seeds in Baruara Village, Balige District, Toba.
Wearing an ulos head covering, Puan sowed the seeds with 10 local farmers. Every now and then a female farmer can be seen helping Puan fix her ulos. The sowing of these seeds is a sign of the start of the two-times-twice-harvest program.
After sowing the rice seeds, Puan then moved to a corn field which is about 1 km from the rice fields. He planted corn while talking intimately with the farmers who accompanied him. It is planned that there will be 10 thousand hectares of land to be planted with corn in that location.
Puan then talked with residents and farmers after planting corn.
“Food is a matter of the life and death of a nation. So Indonesia’s food security is a must,” said Puan in her speech.
The first woman who served as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives said that food security should not only be a sweetener for aunts. According to him, food security must become a living reality for the progress of Indonesia and the welfare of the people.
“Therefore, innovation must be introduced in the agricultural sector to increase production. Like the 2 Times Planting, 2 Times Harvest program that we launched today,” he said.
“Usually we follow the old cycle. The harvest is called once a year, then it’s done. Now, we are doing innovation, we are making a breakthrough with 2 times of planting, 2 times of harvesting,” added Puan.
That way, according to the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, agricultural productivity will also increase. The hope, said Puan, is that the income and welfare of farmers will also increase.
“Given the importance of the agricultural sector in improving the welfare of the Indonesian people, it is the attention of the DPR RI regarding several problems that are still being faced in this sector,” he said.
Puan revealed that she has accommodated many problems faced by farmers, ranging from issues of seeds, fertilizers, tools, sales, and so on. He got this after traveling to various regions in Indonesia.
“The DPR RI consistently absorbs the aspirations of farmers in various regions, which we then fight for in various working meetings with the Government at the DPR RI building within the scope of the legislative, supervisory and budgetary functions of the DPR RI,” said Puan.
“But of course the DPR-RI cannot work alone, we need to work together with the Regional Government, Provincial level, Regency / City level if we want to realize the welfare of farmers, realize Indonesian food security,” continued the grandson of the Indonesian proclaimer Bung Karno.
Puan then advised that the Twice-Kali Planting program should continue to be monitored for its stages.
“Don’t declare it and then leave it, it must be inflamed after it has been declared. We hope that the Twice Planting-Twice Harvest program will be beneficial for farmers, the people and Indonesia,” said Puan.
The Regent of Toba, Poltak Sitorus, who accompanied Puan, specifically asked the DPR to help his region overcome the scarcity of fertilizers. He also hopes that there will be support for the organic fertilizer program instead of chemical fertilizers.
“When it comes to organic fertilizer, let’s think about it later so that in Tapanuli Raya there is an organic fertilizer processing plant,” said Puan.
The legislator from the V Central Java electoral district then highlighted the issue of planting corn in Toba which is still done manually. While talking to Puan, the local farmer also said that he had never planted corn with a machine.
“I once planted corn in Papua with the president, but using a machine (harvest). If it’s manual here, you have to squat,” said Puan.
“Actually, ma’am, but we don’t have the tools,” said one farmer.
Puan promised to help procure corn planting machines in Toba.
A farmer who spoke with Puan named Mariani Hutabarat then asked for the boots that Puan was wearing. Finally, the shoes were given by Puan as a gift.
On the other hand, Toba Regent Poltak Sitorus complained about 190 km of provincial roads, 70% of which were damaged. He hopes that the DPR can help repair damaged roads in Toba.
“Because this triggers inflation, prices will rise because transportation is difficult,” said the Poltak Regent.****
