Jakarta, IO – During his address at the peak of the 17th Farmers and Fishermen National Week (Penas XVII) celebrations at the Limboto Sport Center in Gorontalo on Wednesday, President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that farmers and fishermen have played a vital role in the Indonesian nation’s journey, spanning from the independence struggle to modern national development.
Prabowo reminded the audience that since the inception of the Republic of Indonesia, farmers and fishermen have served as the ultimate pillars of the nation’s struggle. According to him, the unwavering support of rural communities, farmers, and fishermen provided crucial strength to freedom fighters in defending Indonesia’s independence.
“When we declared and proclaimed our independence, there was no state yet, no budget, no state budget, and no salaries. Those who chose the Republic of Indonesia did so out of their hearts, out of love for the Indonesian nation, not for a salary. Yet, the military at that time was sustained, supported, and fed by our farmers and fishermen across Indonesia,” he said reflectively.
Prabowo also reminisced about his own experiences as a young soldier, during which he witnessed firsthand the support and sacrifices of rural communities. Despite living in hardship, farmers continued to aid soldiers on duty guarding the nation.
“When I was a young soldier, stationed in villages and mountains, I also felt the immense help of the farmers. Their lives were difficult. They had to forage for firewood, walking for kilometers just to cook. Fetching water was hard; they had to walk for kilometers. Yet, they still cooked for the TNI [Indonesian Armed Forces] soldiers,” he recounted.
Reflecting on these experiences, Prabowo urged all military personnel and national leaders never to forget the services of farmers and fishermen who have long sustained the nation’s life. He stressed that the food sector is the primary foundation for any country’s survival.
“Farmers and fishermen are the producers of food. No country can stand, no country can survive, and indeed, no civilization can endure without food,” he observed.
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Prabowo also expressed his gratitude for Indonesia’s achievement in reaching food self-sufficiency over the past year and eight months. According to him, this success is the fruit of the hard work of farmers, fishermen, and all parties involved in developing the national agriculture and fisheries sectors.
“We have achieved many great things, and what I am most grateful for is our food self-sufficiency. We produce food—rice, corn—almost all food commodities we produce ourselves. Furthermore, our rice and corn production is currently at the highest level since our country was founded,” he noted.
He went to add that this achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of various ministries and institutions, including the active support of the TNI and Polri (Indonesian Police) in fortifying the national food sector. Prabowo extended his deepest appreciation and respect to all Indonesian farmers and fishermen for their dedication and hard work in maintaining national food security.
“Thank you to the entire farming and fishing community of Indonesia, thank you for your hard work. The journey ahead is still long, but you have proven your enduring spirit. As food producers, you are truly the backbone of the Republic of Indonesia,” he said, concluding his remarks. (des)
