The Majelis Nasional Korps Alumni Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam (MN KAHMI) has expressed strong support for the Indonesian government's initiative to repurpose 20 million hectares of forest land to bolster national food, energy, and water security. This strategic move aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's vision of achieving self-sufficiency in these critical sectors.

Ato' Ismail, MN KAHMI's Head of Agriculture, highlighted Indonesia's vast forest resources, noting that as of late 2023, the country boasted approximately 125 million hectares of forested land. He emphasized that utilizing a portion of this land could generate up to 10 million new jobs through agro-business downstream programs. Moreover, this initiative is projected to enhance the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by an estimated Rp20,000 trillion and contribute around Rp1,000 trillion in tax revenue.

In a recent Seminar on Food Self-Sufficiency, attended by key figures such as Deputy Minister of Transmigration Viva Yoga Mauladi and MN KAHMI Presidium member Abdullah Puteh, Ato' underscored Indonesia's potential to become a global leader in agriculture and food production. He pointed out that the annual loss of 90,000 hectares of rice fields could be mitigated by developing new agricultural areas managed by private enterprises, with limited subsidies akin to those provided to farmers.

Addressing environmental concerns, Ato' referenced findings from the Faculty of Forestry at IPB University, which indicate that oil palm plantations can absorb approximately 57.2 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per hectare annually. He also highlighted the positive economic impacts of palm oil investments, including job creation, infrastructure development in remote areas, and increased local revenue through mechanisms like the Land and Building Rights Acquisition Fee (BPHTB) from Business Use Rights (HGU) processing.

To further support this initiative, Ato' proposed allocating 15% of the state budget (APBN) to programs aimed at achieving food and energy self-sufficiency. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the management of natural resources remains in the hands of local entrepreneurs and workers, and that small and medium-sized enterprises are actively involved to promote social equity across Indonesia.

Former Director General of Food Crop Production at the Ministry of Agriculture, Jafar Hafsah, echoed support for converting forest land for agricultural purposes, citing the continuous decline in available farming areas. He emphasized that land availability is crucial for attaining food self-sufficiency. Currently, Indonesia has about 40 million farmers managing 30 million hectares of agricultural land, divided into 10 million hectares for food crops and 20 million hectares for plantations.

Jafar also highlighted the role of technology in enhancing agricultural productivity and efficiency. He identified key factors essential for a successful food self-sufficiency system, including skilled human resources, adequate capital, advanced technology, robust infrastructure, and effective institutions. With these elements in place, Indonesia is well-positioned to achieve its food self-sufficiency goals.

By strategically converting 20 million hectares of forest land, Indonesia aims to strengthen its national food and energy security, drive economic growth, and move closer to economic independence.