RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Facing a staggering 98 percent reliance on food supplies from outside the region, the Jakarta Provincial Administration has launched a strategic counter-offensive by mobilizing a massive simultaneous harvest across 807 locations citywide.

This synchronized "Panen Raya" (Great Harvest) signals a shift in the capital's approach to food security, transforming idle urban spaces into productive green hubs to bridge the gap in local supply.

The initiative, which kicked off on Monday, March 30, 2026, was centered at the Pulo Gebang agricultural site in East Jakarta, a formerly abandoned plot of land repurposed into a thriving greenhouse. Head of the Jakarta Food Security, Marine, and Agriculture Agency, (KPKP) Hasudungan Sidabalok emphasized the urgency of the movement during the event.

"Currently, about 98 percent of the capital's food needs are still supplied from outside the region, while only two percent can be met independently. This condition is both a challenge and a motivation for us, the community, and regional leaders to continue increasing the productivity of existing land in Jakarta Province," he said as reported by Antara.

The harvest span reached approximately 12,567 square meters of integrated farming areas, yielding an estimated 15 tons of produce including chili peppers, assorted vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants, and farmed fish.

East Jakarta led the charge with 414 harvest points, followed by South Jakarta with 177, North Jakarta with 94, West Jakarta with 60, Central Jakarta with 58, and the Thousand Islands with 4 locations. Beyond Pulo Gebang, the harvest reached diverse urban settings, from the balcony of the Central Jakarta Mayor's Office to local community centers (RPTRA) and coastal areas in Pulau Tidung Kecil.

Hasudungan underscored that the success of the program relied heavily on a collaborative ecosystem involving 3,000 participants, including civil servants, the Family Welfare Movement (PKK), and local farmer groups.

"This great harvest is not just about reaping crops, it is a symbol of our collective effort to meet daily food needs, starting from the smallest environment, which is the home backyard," said Hasudungan. He described urban farming as a "strategic solution" to mitigate food crises within a metropolitan landscape where productive land is a luxury.

The event was attended by high-ranking officials, including the Chairperson of the Jakarta PKK, Endang Nugrahani Pramono, and Deputy Chairperson, Dewi Indriati Rano Karno, alongside East Jakarta Mayor Munjirin.

The provincial administration aims to evolve these harvest sites into agro-educational zones and urban tourism destinations. Despite the geographical constraints, Hasudungan remains resolute about the city's trajectory.

"With a spirit of collaboration and innovation, the Jakarta Provincial Administration is optimistic about gradually increasing food independence, even amidst limited land and high dependence on outside supply," he concluded. ***

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