KARAWANG | ONEDIGINEWS.COM | The Karawang Correctional Facility is utilizing vacant land within the facility to develop a food security program. The land is used for various activities, ranging from agriculture and livestock farming to aquaculture, all of which involve inmates.
The head of the Karawang, Correctional Facility, Ma’ruf Prasetyo at Wednesday (26/8/26) stated that of the approximately 3 hectares of available land, 1.7 hectares are being used for agricultural purposes.
This use of the land is considered appropriate given the conditions in Karawang Regency, which has long been known as a major rice-producing region.
“The Karawang Correctional Facility has 3 hectares of idle land, and 1.7 hectares of it are used for agriculture because Karawang is famous for its high-quality rice,” said the warden of the Karawang Correctional Facility.
Meanwhile, the remaining land has been divided into several plots used for various food security initiatives. The development of this program is also part of Karawang Prison’s support for the President’s Asta Cita program and the programs of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections.
For the Karawang Correctional Facility, this initiative is not just about producing food. Inmates are also directly involved so that they can acquire skills that will serve them well upon their return to society.
One of the initiatives being developed is the Kampung Unggul Balitbang (KUB) chicken farm. This breed was chosen because it has higher egg productivity and grows faster than ordinary native chickens.
Inmates are also taught how to hatch KUB chicken eggs. The hatched chicks can later be sold or raised to become broiler chickens.
For their care, the chickens are fed twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon.
In addition to chickens, the Karawang Correctional Facility also has a broiler sheep farm. Some of the breeds raised there include Dorper, Texel, Merino, and Suffolk.
According to the prison warden, this breed of meat sheep is still relatively unknown to the Indonesian public. In fact, these sheep offer significant advantages in terms of meat production.
“This breed of meat sheep yields a much larger meat carcass compared to Garut sheep,” he said.
The Karawang Prison is also developing a cattle fattening program. The decision to focus on cattle farming was made based on the potential of the Karawang region, which has extensive rice paddies.
Straw generated from agricultural activities can be used as a source of cattle feed. In this way, agricultural and livestock production can support one another.
“In Karawang itself, there are many rice granaries. That straw serves as one source of feed for cattle,” said the prison warden.
The fisheries sector is also included in this food security program. Currently, five types of fish are being farmed on the Karawang Prison grounds: catfish, tilapia, carp, patin, and koi.
All of these activities directly involve the inmates. They participate in activities ranging from farming and raising livestock to fish farming.
“The inmates are directly involved in all livestock-raising and farming activities,” he explained.
The prison warden believes these food security activities are one way to provide broader opportunities for the inmates’ rehabilitation.
Within the prison environment, they not only undergo rehabilitation but also learn various skills that they can put to use when they eventually return to society.
According to him, developing food security is also crucial for promoting food self-sufficiency. For this reason, the Karawang Correctional Facility is striving to play its part, even if it starts within the prison setting.
“If food security is improved, then there will be more opportunities for us to support the inmates,” he concluded.
