Asia

Indonesia to Start ‘Food Estate’ Project Despite Criticism

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (second from right) visits the proposed site of a ‘food estate’ in Pulang Pisau Regency in Central Kalimantan province on July 9, 2020. / Indonesian State Secretariat / Kyodo

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By Kyodo News 24 September 2020

JAKARTA—Despite criticism from environmental activists, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is set to embark on a national food estate program to deal with a possible food crisis in the future due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Citing repeated warnings from the Food and Agricultural Organization over the global food crisis, Jokowi told his cabinet ministers during a meeting Wednesday that besides the pandemic, food estates are needed due to “climate change and more importantly, to reduce our reliance on imported food.”