Preparing Food Estate in Merauke
The Director of the Directorate of Research and Development of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Haryono, when he delivered the keynote address of the Minister of Agriculture stated that Korea failed to implement food estate, because its plan was not supported by various experts. "We should plan the Indonesian food estate concept seriusly. The concept Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) will be the foundation to implement this Food Estate. This concept will combine agriculture, livestock and fisheries, to form the harmony, "stated Dr. Haryono in the Seminar on Food Estate in Indonesia: Can it Achieve Sustainable Development in Agricultural, Soveriegn, and Justice?, Tuesday, 14 December 2010, at IPB International Convention Center (IICC). This event was organized by the Faculty of Human Ecology (FEMA) Bogor Agricultural University in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture Government of Indonesia.
MIFEE will occupy as much as 520 thousand hectares of land. In its initial pilot project, 5 thousand hectares of land will be developed. In planning and implementation of MIFEE, Local communities will be involved to protect them as being marginalized, as the land being utilized are communal land. In Merauke, manufacturers are required to develop imperishable food products at affordable prices by cutting distribution costs, if they intend to market its products to Western part Indonesia. Johanes Glube Gebze, community leader of Marind Tribe expected that MIFEE will supply food demands for the local communities at the affordable price. "We do not blame if any of those people want to be independent, because they are hungry. With the existence of MIFEE I hope food prices won’t be expensive, "said Yohannes.
Director General of Infrastructure of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr.Sumarjo Gatot Irianto, disclosed the pessimism of the audiences by exemplifying of food estate in Sukamandi managed by PT. Sang Hyang Sri. "PT.Sang Hyang Sri has successfully implemented food estate in Karawang region. To support the food estate, the government must provide social land. In addition, the government should build the State Owned Enterprices where its capital will be formed together with a group of local farmers, "explained Dr. Gatot Irianto. At present, the government has established PT. Rice Energi Nusantara (PEN).
Director of PT Padi Energi Nusantara, Ir. Icky Ruskanda, as well as the Conservation Planning Coordinator WWF of Indonesia, Mr. Thomas Barano were invited as other speakers in this event. While discussants were Chairman of the Department of Communication Science and Community Development (KPM) Faculty of Human Ecology, Dr. Soeryo Adi Wibowo and Dean of Faculty of Economics and Management, Dr. Yusman Syaukat. (Wied).
