Bulog Partners with Pandawa Agri Indonesia to Boost Food Security and Farmers’ Productivity in Banyuwangi through Mitra Tani Program

Banyuwangi, 16 October 2024 – As climate change increasingly disrupts agriculture with rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall, crop cycles are being altered, and yields declined. This urgent need for adaptation is pushing stakeholders to find innovative solutions to protect food production. 

In response to these challenges, Bulog proudly announces the launch of its Mitra Tani Program, an upstream initiative designed to tackle food security challenges by directly supporting farmers, in Banyuwangi. The program focuses on improving access to vital agricultural resources such as fertilizers and seeds, while also offering production financing to ensure sustainable farming practices.

“In the face of global food crises, we are committed to developing systems that can respond swiftly to market disruptions and fluctuations in food prices. Through Mitra Tani, where  collaboration with farmers is central, we are strengthening supply chains, increasing agricultural productivity, and providing farmers with essential training on sustainable agricultural methods,” said Febby Novianti, Business Director of Bulog.

According to the National Food Agency, rice demand in Indonesia has reached 31.2 million tons, but production has dropped compared to the same period in 2023. The Mitra Tani program was developed to address the urgent challenges in Indonesia’s agricultural sector, particularly the decrease in food production due to factors such as the climate crisis and a declining number of farmers. 

Mitra Tani’s primary goal is to support farmers at the upstream level, addressing issues like land fertility, lack of capital, and limited access to quality inputs. “By working closely with farmers, Bulog aims to understand production costs, improve farmer welfare, and source rice directly from farmers, creating a more sustainable and efficient agricultural system,” said Fahrurozi, Lead Project Management Officer of Mitra Tani Program.

Beyond financial support, the program provides comprehensive agronomic assistance, including guidance on crop management and optimal harvesting techniques, ensuring long-term resilience in the agricultural sector.

“Our goal is to improve farmer welfare and strengthen national food security. By working directly with farmers, Mitra Tani aims to increase productivity in key rice production areas and beyond, ensuring the absorption of locally produced rice at competitive prices, whether according to HPP (Government Purchase Price) or market rates,” said Febby.

Febby added, “As of October, half of the project’s land has been harvested, with the remaining areas set for harvest in November. To date, Bulog has procured nearly 70 tons of rice from the pilot initiative. The potential for growth within the Mitra Tani ecosystem in Banyuwangi is vast, with opportunities to expand to up to 100,000 hectares of rice fields. Bulog aims to expand the Mitra Tani program to cover up to 700,000 hectares nationwide. We are confident that this collaboration will significantly enhance farmer productivity in Banyuwangi and contribute to strengthening national food security.”

Pandawa Agri Partnership Driving Innovation in Rice Farming

The Mitra Tani Program also fosters collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including the private sector, with a focus on agricultural mentoring and cultivation development. One key partnership within this initiative is with Pandawa Agri Indonesia, a private-sector leader in sustainable agriculture, which has brought innovative solutions to the program’s pilot project in Banyuwangi, East Java.

Pandawa Agri Indonesia plays a crucial role by providing expert agronomy services and deploying its proprietary PPAI Technology™, a comprehensive package of eco-friendly agricultural inputs. This package includes certified seeds, pesticide reductants, fertilizers, mycorrhizae, straw decomposers, and biological agents, all coupled with continuous agronomic support.

“Our innovations are tailored to meet farmers’ needs while maintaining environmental and soil health. The products in the PPAI™ package are eco-friendly alternatives to conventional inputs, making them more sustainable for long-term agricultural success. Farmers can secure higher net profits, take full advantage of favorable market conditions, and adopt more sustainable farming practices,” said Kukuh Roxa, CEO of Pandawa Agri Indonesia.

In the Mitra Tani Program, farmers receive full assistance in implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and complete coverage of farming costs. The pilot project launched in June 2024, covering 31 hectares of rice farming, has already shown promising results. Farmer productivity rose by 31.11% to an average of 5.8 tons per hectare, even amidst challenging conditions such as pest attacks that led to significant losses for conventional farmers.

Farmers participating in the Mitra Tani Program with Pandawa Agri’s support have also enjoyed higher net profits compared to those using conventional methods. In total, more than 400 million rupiah has been distributed to farmers in the form of affordable financing and crop purchases, helping to improve farming practices and livelihoods.

Arvy Rizaldy, a representative of young farmers, stated, “The rice farming sector faces significant challenges, with only 21.9% of farmers aged 16-30. Many young people avoid agriculture due to a lack of interest and negative perceptions of the profession. Farming with PPAI technology lowers the barrier for the younger generation since the process is streamlined, and we receive close assistance. Additionally, the results are more lucrative, making agriculture a more attractive and viable career option for the youth.”

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About Pandawa Agri Indonesia

Pandawa Agri Indonesia is Indonesian agri life-science company and is currently the only one that has innovation in the development of pesticide-reducing products (pesticide reductants). Starting from this innovation, Pandawa Agri Indonesia is committed to helping agricultural business actors to implement agricultural practices that are sustainable, environmentally friendly, safe for users, and also cost-efficient. 

For more information visit www.pandawaid.com.
For media enquiries, please contact:

Junia Anindya
Corporate Sustainability and Communications 
Pandawa Agri Indonesia
junia@pandawaid.com
+62 81-351-670-869

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