By: Naufal Prasetya
Strengthening food security is a primary focus of the central and regional governments in facing evolving global challenges. Stable food supply, smooth distribution, and the ability to maintain food quality are considered crucial for maintaining national economic resilience. Therefore, cross-sectoral collaboration between the government, regionally-owned enterprises (BUMD), and businesses is considered a strategic step in building a strong and sustainable food system. One effort currently being promoted by the government is strengthening the cold chain system to ensure more effective and efficient food distribution.
The Ministry of Home Affairs’ Domestic Policy Strategy Agency assesses that regionally-owned enterprises (BUMD) play a crucial role in supporting national resilience, particularly through strengthening cold chain interconnectivity. This system is considered capable of maintaining food quality, reducing damage to agricultural produce, and ensuring a steady supply of food in various regions. Strengthening the cold chain is also considered crucial for maintaining food price stability, which is often affected by distribution and logistics issues.
Rochayati Basra, Head of the Center for Development Policy Strategy, Regional Finance, and Villages, stated that food security is a shared responsibility between the central and regional governments, as mandated by Law Number 18 of 2012 concerning Food. Basra explained that regional governments play a strategic role in ensuring smooth distribution, supply stabilization, and effective logistics management. Therefore, strengthening regionally-owned food enterprises (BUMD) is a concrete step towards building an integrated cold chain system across various regions.
Furthermore, Law Number 23 of 2014 concerning Regional Government also emphasizes that food matters fall under regional authority. This regulation places a significant responsibility on regional governments, along with regional apparatuses and BUMDs, in building a sustainable food distribution system. Regions are expected to take strategic steps tailored to their respective needs to ensure food security.
Hasanuddin Yasni, a representative of the Indonesian Cold Chain Organization, believes that food self-sufficiency is not only related to increased production, but also to the country’s ability to manage, process, and distribute food products with the support of adequate technology and policies. Hasanuddin Yasni emphasized the importance of developing a cold chain ecosystem, as many agricultural and fishery products are still damaged due to weak storage and distribution systems.
According to Hasanuddin Yasni, strengthening the cold chain requires adequate facilities and infrastructure, improved human resource quality, and collaborative business models. Collaboration between local governments, regionally-owned enterprises (BUMD), and businesses is considered a crucial solution to addressing limited investment and technology in the regions. This collaboration is also expected to drive regional economic growth through a more modern and integrated food sector.
This perspective demonstrates that food security cannot be built by one party alone. The government requires the support of the business community and the public to strengthen the national food system. Conversely, businesses also require regulatory support, infrastructure, and policies that support the development of the national food sector. Therefore, synergy between these parties is considered key to maintaining long-term food security.
Meanwhile, Cilegon Deputy Mayor Fajar Hadi Prabowo emphasized that the Cilegon City Government fully supports the central government’s policy of achieving national food self-sufficiency. According to Fajar Hadi Prabowo, synergy between the central and regional governments is a crucial factor in maintaining sustainable food security. This support is realized through various strategic measures, including strengthening the agricultural sector amidst Cilegon’s status as an industrial city.
Fajar Hadi Prabowo also stated that President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the successful acceleration of national food self-sufficiency by 2025, which was achieved faster than the initial target. This success is considered the result of collaboration between the central government, regional governments, farmers, and all stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Over the past year, the government has also been deemed successful in maintaining national food stability through various strategic policies. Some notable achievements include increased national rice production, the availability of subsidized fertilizer, agricultural modernization, and strengthened food distribution. Amid the threat of a global food crisis and global economic uncertainty, these achievements demonstrate that Indonesia’s food sector is beginning to demonstrate greater resilience the central government also continues to strengthen the agricultural sector through land optimization, irrigation development, and the use of modern agricultural technology. These steps are reinforced by the support of regional governments, which continue to strive to increase agricultural productivity in their respective regions. Collaboration between the central and regional governments is considered a crucial factor in maintaining the sustainability of the national food sector.
Strengthened cooperation between the central government, regional governments, regionally-owned enterprises (BUMD), and business actors is a crucial foundation for maintaining national food security. Strengthening the cold chain system, increasing agricultural productivity, and developing a more modern distribution system demonstrates that Indonesia is steadily moving towards better food governance. With the support of all parties, food security is expected to not only maintain economic stability but also sustainably improve public welfare.
*) National Food Policy Analyst