The collaboration was formalized with the signing of an agreement between the two ministers in Jakarta on Friday.
"Today marks the beginning of crucial cooperation to meet the target set by President Prabowo—achieving food self-sufficiency as soon as possible," Sulaiman said.
The partnership will focus on infrastructure support for the agricultural sector to optimize domestic food production, following President Prabowo Subianto's directive.
Sulaiman explained that the synergy between his ministry and the Ministry of Public Works will involve program coordination, budget alignment, irrigation management, rice field development, and data sharing as concrete steps to advance the government’s goals for food self-sufficiency.
Baca juga: Minister Amran vows to resign if he fails to end food import mafia
He added that this agreement will enable the Ministry of Agriculture to maximize the use of existing farmland.
He further stated that, with support from the Ministry of Public Works, agricultural output can be significantly increased.
The Ministry of Agriculture aims to raise the planting index on current farmland, especially rain-fed areas, from once to two or three times per planting season.
"If we can cultivate 1 million hectares with an increased planting index, we estimate that Indonesia could produce an additional 5 million tons of unhusked rice," he noted.
Sulaiman also emphasized the importance of program integration. Under the agreement, the Ministry of Agriculture will provide technical support and resources such as seeds, fertilizers, and tractors.
The Ministry of Public Works will ensure an adequate water supply by constructing and managing irrigation infrastructure. This will enable existing farmland to be cultivated more efficiently with optimal water use.
Sulaiman added that the two ministries will form a joint team to ensure effective collaboration, aligning each project from planning through implementation.
Baca juga: Agriculture, public works partner to boost food self-sufficiency
Meanwhile, Minister Hanggodo expressed his ministry's commitment to supporting food self-sufficiency, stating that it will refocus its budget to meet agricultural infrastructure needs.
"We will ensure all dams and irrigation systems under our authority function optimally for rice field development and agricultural land intensification," he said.
The Ministry of Public Works will coordinate mapping efforts with the Ministry of Agriculture to effectively target areas for joint initiatives. This will enable both ministries to work from a shared map and synchronize their project plans.
