Indonesian minister urges mayors to bolster urban food security

Indonesia's Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, has called upon all mayors across the nation to formulate robust strategies for enhancing food security within their respective regions. This appeal was made during a Food Dialogue Forum, a segment of the 17th National Working Meeting of the Association of All Indonesian City Governments (APEKSI) held in Medan.

Nurofiq underscored the pivotal role urban areas play in the national food security framework, noting that approximately 60 percent of Indonesia's population lives and works in cities. "We have 98 cities, which are certainly not simple nodes, to make them the backbone of food security," he stated, highlighting the complexity of ensuring food resilience in these densely populated centers.

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We have 98 cities, which are certainly not simple nodes, to make them the backbone of food security.

The minister stressed that urban food security is multifaceted, encompassing production, supply chains, availability, and affordability. He acknowledged the challenges inherent in managing these pillars within the dynamic and complex urban environment. The outcomes of the APEKSI meeting are expected to be reviewed and submitted to the central government for further action, aiming to solidify national food security foundations.

Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution, as the host, welcomed the initiative, viewing the forum as a crucial opportunity for city governments to collaborate and devise practical solutions. "This is a forum to study and formulate related to food security, which we will later implement," Nasution remarked, expressing optimism that the deliberations would yield actionable plans for strengthening food resilience across Indonesia.

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This is a forum to study and formulate related to food security, which we will later implement.