Indonesian Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman announced on Monday that Indonesia would offer aid by sending 10,000 tons of rice to Palestine and dedicate parts of its agricultural land to grow the food crop. He offers this help to Palestinian Agricultural Minister Rezq Basheer-Salimia, in Jakarta. According to Amran, this move symbolises their country’s solidarity with Palestinians.
In a press statement, he has asserted that it is up to the Palestinian Embassy in Indonesia to decide when the rice would make its way to Palestine. Further extending hopes for Palestine’s independence. “Indonesia supports Palestine’s food supply”, he said.
Furthermore, the govt. has proposed the plan of setting up a joint agricultural investment zone varies between 10,000 and 15,000 hectares across Indonesia in which all the food crops grown in this Investment Zone will go to Palestine. Additionally, these investment zone will lie in South Sumatra.
This specific agricultural project will have an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons of rice including several other key horticultural commodities like tomatoes, cucumber, and garlic. Not only this, but the zone could also extend to Kalimant.
This collaboration is not only limited to rice but technology and resource also, allowing Jakarta to gain information in the fields of irrigation and horticultural development.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) related to an agricultural partnership has been signed by both countries. In addition, it would address on capacity building in the seed industry, biotechnology, agribusiness, and food reserves etc.