AGRICOM, JAKARTA – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received the Agricola Medal award from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The highest FAO award was handed over directly by FAO Director General, Qu Dongyu at Istana Merdeka Jakarta, Friday (30/8).
For information, the Agricola Medal Award was fully initiated by FAO, while the selection process for this award was carried out by the FAO Director General’s Internal Team in a closed manner.
“The Agricola Medal Award is given to world leaders who are considered to have great efforts and support for FAO’s fundamental goals in achieving global food security,” said Qu Dongyu, as informed by Agricom.id from the official website of the Ministry of Agriculture.
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Furthermore, Qu Dongyu said, under the leadership of President Jokowi, Indonesia showed rapid progress in transforming the agricultural system by implementing the principle of sustainable agricultural development, even when the world was facing various global challenges, such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the agricultural sector has become the driver of Indonesia’s economic growth with a growth of 2.2 percent. The poverty rate in Indonesia also continues to decline consistently,” he said.
Furthermore, Qu Dongyu said the Agricola Medal award was proof of Indonesia’s efforts in realizing food security and a better life for the people, without any citizens being neglected. “Indonesia has shown strong cooperation and collaboration in achieving our common goals in the field of global food security,” Qu Dongyu explained.
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President Jokowi thanked FAO for this award. The President hopes that the Agricola Medal can awaken Indonesia’s collective energy to contribute more to world food security. “Hopefully FAO can be a solid bridge that unites the world’s steps in common food security,” Jokowi said.
Jokowi emphasized that Indonesia realizes the importance of food sovereignty and independence.
“Indonesia is very aware of the importance of food sovereignty and independence because food is a basic human need,” Jokowi said.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, who was also present to accompany President Jokowi when receiving the award, appreciated the FAO for giving the highest award in the global food security sector.
“In the past, FAO gave an award to President Soeharto for Indonesia’s success in achieving food self-sufficiency. Today, President Jokowi who received the award has shown extraordinary leadership and had a major impact on Indonesia’s agricultural sector,” Amran said.
Amran said that just like Soeharto, President Jokowi also achieved rice self-sufficiency for four years perfectly. “Indonesia realized rice self-sufficiency in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Self-sufficiency is perfect because Indonesia does not import medium rice at all,” Amran concluded.
In addition to President Jokowi, FAO this year awarded the Agricola Medal to two other country leaders, namely Irish President Micheal D Higginis and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. This year is the first time the FAO has awarded the Agricola Medal after the last Agricola Medal was awarded to the then Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wen Jiabao in 2012. (P3)
