VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo's call for the G7 and G20 member countries to unite to save developing countries from the food crisis is appreciated, because it was delivered in the right situation.

President Jokowi's statement was conveyed in his view at the G7 Summit session II, with the topic of food security and gender equality taking place in Elmau, Germany, Monday (27/6/2022), this week.

"Currently, extreme hunger threatens people in developing countries," said Professor Hikmahanto Juwana at the University of Indonesia in his statement, Wednesday (29/6/2022).

On the other hand, Hikmahanto assessed that President Jokowi's invitation about the food crisis was also related to the encouragement of peace in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This is because the production of agricultural products, especially wheat, is the largest in the world in these two countries.

Because of that, he continued, President Jokowi's speech did not directly mention the dangers of war in Ukraine, but the intent of the statement also involved efforts to reconcile the two countries in Eastern Europe.

"Yes, that's right, I think this is the approach taken by Mr. Jokowi so that the destination countries do not heat up Ukraine," said the Chancellor of the University, General Achmad Yani.

It is believed that President Jokowi's statement about saving developing countries from this extreme food crisis will surely be followed by G7 and G20 member countries.

"I think this is an appeal from the President and maybe these countries will follow this call to survive the extreme food crisis, because this war has been in Europe for too long, everyone is tired and frankly doesn't know what the goal is," he said.

"In fact, what are affected are developing countries that do not have money financially, which then the President said that millions of people will be affected, will die if this food crisis occurs," he added.

As is known, President Joko Widodo called on the G7 and G20 countries to jointly overcome the food crisis, which currently threatens people in developing countries to fall into extreme hunger and poverty.

“323 million people in 2022, according to the World Food Programme, are at risk of facing acute food insecurity. The G7 and G20 have a big responsibility to overcome this food crisis. Let's fulfill our responsibilities now, and from now on," Jokowi said.

According to Jokowi, food is the most basic human rights issue, while women from poor families will certainly suffer the most when facing food shortages for their children and families.

“We must act quickly to find a concrete solution. Food production must be increased. The global food and fertilizer supply chain must return to normal," he concluded. (RRI)