Indonesia To Boost Food Productivity: VP Kalla

JAKARTA, Oct 31 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has targeted to annually boost food productivity by three percent to realize food sustainability. "We noted that each year, the conversion of agriculture fields into industrial and residential areas reaches 1.5 percent. Meanwhile, the population is growing at a rate of 1.5 percent per year. Thus, we should increase food productivity by three percent to support food sustainability," Vice President Jusuf Kalla stated while delivering a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Food Forum here on Monday. According to Kalla, the conversion of agriculture fields into industrial and residential areas poses an obstacle to realizing food sustainability. He noted that food sustainability is a long-term program. Indonesia is addressing the challenge by utilizing technology for boosting the production of food. "We can handle the challenge by applying technologies, including in the field of food production, to fulfill the demand for food," Kalla said. The government is finding a way to improve the food quality and productivity by utilizing technology in Indonesia, Kalla remarked. Moreover, the forum is a gathering of several figures and officers in sectors, such as health, environment, and food security. Each party will follow up on the forum's results by implementing a realistic action plan.