Agricultural Modernization and Pro-Farmer Policies: Pillars of Indonesia’s Food Self-Sufficiency Success
By: Yusuf Rinaldi)*
Improving national food security is a major challenge facing Indonesia, especially amidst the uncertainty caused by the global food crisis. While 53 countries are grappling with the threat of famine and malnutrition, Indonesia is demonstrating enormous potential to become the world’s food basket. One of the key factors in achieving food self-sufficiency is the implementation of agricultural modernization supported by pro-farmer government policies.
In recent years, Indonesia’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency have gained significant momentum through focused and innovative policies. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized that one of the main factors accelerating food self-sufficiency is policies implemented at the highest levels by the government. As evidence, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has issued more than 18 food-related instructions in a single year, an unprecedented achievement. These instructions cover various areas such as more focused and structured food production, supervision, and distribution, and enable accelerated policy implementation.
Agricultural modernization itself is not simply about new equipment and technology. It encompasses systematic changes in governance and farmer mindsets. The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has provided various forms of support to accelerate the modernization of the agricultural sector, including providing farmers with access to more efficient agricultural machinery (alsintan), superior seeds, and subsidized, high-quality fertilizers at no additional cost. These efforts are accompanied by strengthened law enforcement to combat fraudulent practices that can harm farmers, such as the distribution of counterfeit fertilizers that damage farmers’ land and potentially cause significant losses to the state.
In these challenging times, awareness of the importance of farmers’ role as the nation’s food heroes is increasingly emphasized. The government is not only improving agricultural infrastructure but also improving farmers’ welfare through policies that favor them. One significant result of this policy is the success in increasing national rice production. By October 2025, Indonesian rice production was recorded at 31 million tons, exceeding the national consumption requirement of approximately 27 million tons. In fact, Indonesia experienced a rice surplus of 3.7 million tons, one of the highest in recent years.
However, agricultural modernization is not only about introducing more efficient technologies and systems. It also includes strengthening food sector governance through bureaucratic reforms aimed at reducing inefficiencies and ensuring targeted aid programs. This effort has proven effective, with 75 suspects successfully prosecuted for collusion and corruption in the food sector. The government has taken decisive action to eradicate individuals who harm the state and farmers, by imposing administrative and criminal sanctions on approximately 60 internal Ministry of Agriculture employees involved.
This success is further evident with the increase in the government purchase price (HPP) for unhusked rice, set at Rp6,500 per kilogram, which in turn increases farmers’ income by approximately Rp65 trillion. This policy aims to empower farmers economically in a sustainable manner. With such support, Indonesia’s agricultural sector will progress not only in quantity but also in quality.
Furthermore, Indonesia must harness the immense potential of its younger generation to strengthen the food sector. With their technological skills and innovation, young people can be key drivers of the transformation of the national agricultural sector. Dr. Haris Syahbuddin, Head of the Center for Food Crop Agriculture Assembly and Modernization, emphasized that the younger generation holds the key to accelerating the transformation of the agricultural sector, which will leverage the potential of Indonesia’s biodiversity-rich agro-ecosystems and tropical climate that supports year-round food production.
Indonesia’s success in achieving food self-sufficiency is also influenced by the policies of other government agencies, such as the National Logistics Agency (Bulog), which plays a crucial role in stabilizing food prices and distribution. Bulog’s President Director, Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, emphasized that strengthening food security requires a strong institutional foundation and policies that adapt to global dynamics.
Climate change, geopolitics, and fluctuating global food prices require the government to have instruments capable of consistently maintaining food security. Bulog, as a state-mandated institution, plays a key role in managing food stocks, stabilizing prices, and distributing food throughout Indonesia, ensuring equitable food availability throughout Indonesia.
The National Logistics Agency (Bulog) continues to support the food diversification program by exploring the potential of local commodities such as corn, sweet potatoes, and cassava. This initiative is a response to changing consumer consumption patterns, which are increasingly diverse. Furthermore, Bulog is exploring international collaboration to develop alternative food ingredients, such as rice flour, which is healthier than wheat flour.
Overall, agricultural modernization, accompanied by firm and structured pro-farmer policies, is key to Indonesia’s successful food self-sufficiency. With government support, farmers are empowered and the agricultural sector is able to transform to become more efficient, highly competitive, and sustainable. Going forward, Indonesia will not only meet domestic food needs but also has the potential to become a global player in food security.
)*The author is an economic observer
