Focus Session: Agrifood & Water in North Sumatra
On 26 August 2021, the virtual Focus Session on Agrifood and Water with the theme “Improving Indonesia’s Food Resilience through Collaborations in Horticulture, Agro-Forestry, and Water for Food” was organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta supported by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (KADIN) with 45 participants from Indonesia and the Netherlands.
This event was hosted as part of the North Sumatra virtual program and Economic Mission led by the Embassy since April. This was the second virtual session that dives deeper into the focus sectors of the program, zooming in towards available opportunities for both countries.
The objective of the Focus session was to identify the potential of collaboration in the fields of Agriculture and Water, by understanding where and what the needs are in the province. The Agriculture Counsellor, Joost van Uum presented a general introduction and explained the step by step approach of the Trade Mission.
Joost indicated that the AgriFood and Water track consist of two parts and part one was organized on 26 August. The aim is to understand the needs in technology and knowledge in the entire chain, from seeds to post-harvest in the Province and Humbang Hasundutan’s Food System in particular. The second part will be scheduled after the Embassy has had the chance to visit the area and to explore some concrete agriculture and water leads. The upcoming second part of the session is about matching the identified needs with the Dutch capabilities and offerings. This part will focus more on the private sector, about how Dutch expertise, technology and knowledge solutions can provide added value to the identified needs and challenges. For example, it is known that Dutch expertise offers state-of-the-art knowledge with cheap solutions; which could meet the needs on the ground.
From agrifood, the presentation begins with Agriculture, mainly horticulture, in North Sumatra by the Acting Head of North Sumatra Food & Horticulture Office, then continued with an explanation from the Indonesian Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency regarding the Overview of the Food Systems as a framework for Indonesia and within the international context. Followed by the presentation by the Regent of Humbang Hasundutan on the Food System in his district and the local context, the ideas and challenges. The AgriFood session ended with a presentation on Private Sector Development and involvement in the Food System by the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs.
The water session started with the Introduction on Water for Food by the Dutch Delegated Representative, Rien Dam and continued with presentation on water in North Sumatra by the Acting Head of North Sumatra Water Resources, Human Settlements and Spatial Planning Office. This session ended with the presentation on Water Resources Management for Humbang Hasundutan Food Estate 2020-2022 by the Head of Agency for River Areas.
Following the online interactions through the focus sessions, a visit to North Sumatra is planned as soon as COVID circumstances allow for it.
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For more questions, please contact JAK-LNV@minbuza.nl.