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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

Governor Zainal Takes Over North Kalimantan Farmers’ Group, Making Food Sovereignty His Main Mission

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • North Kalimantan Governor Zainal A. Paliwang was appointed chairman of the provincial Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association for 2026-2030.
  • He said food sovereignty would be his main mission and ordered the organization to strengthen its presence down to the village level.
  • National association secretary-general Abdul Kadir Karding urged local officials to reach farmers directly and support President Prabowo Subianto’s agricultural priorities.

North Kalimantan Governor Zainal A. Paliwang has taken charge of the province’s Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association, placing food sovereignty at the center of his new four-year term as regional chairman.

HKTI North Kalimantan is ready to strengthen synergy with the central leadership and regional government in supporting national food sovereignty.

— Zainal A. PaliwangThe governor outlined his organization’s intended cooperation with national and regional authorities.

The appointment took place during the association’s regional meeting in Tarakan on Saturday afternoon. Secretary-General Abdul Kadir Karding handed Zainal the organization’s mandate and standard. In his first speech, Zainal said accepting the standard meant taking on responsibility for farmers across North Kalimantan, from coastal communities to border areas.

Zainal instructed the new leadership to consolidate the organization down to the subdistrict and village levels. He said stronger grassroots structures could support innovation and help prepare a new generation of farmers, including young and millennial farmers.

Accepting the HKTI standard means accepting responsibility. This is a mandate from our farmers across North Kalimantan, from the coast to the border.

— Zainal A. PaliwangZainal described the responsibility he assumed as provincial chairman.

He said the association should become an effective forum for defending farmers’ interests. Zainal expressed confidence that organizational unity and cooperation could strengthen local food self-sufficiency and improve farmers’ welfare in North Kalimantan.

The organization must be strengthened down to the subdistrict and village levels. From there, we can promote innovation and prepare the next generation of farmers, including millennial farmers.

— Zainal A. PaliwangHe called for deeper grassroots organization and farmer renewal.

Karding said the effort to raise the standing of farmers could not be carried out alone. He described agriculture as the highest priority under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration and said exceeding the timetable for food self-sufficiency showed that commitment. He told newly installed district officials to work in villages, embrace farmers and strengthen their organization so their voices would be heard and counted.

Embrace our farmers and strengthen their organization so their voices are heard and counted.

— Abdul Kadir KardingThe national association secretary-general urged local officials to work directly with farmers.
About this summary

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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