By: Citra Kurnia Khudori)*
The government’s program to achieve food independence not only focuses on meeting the community’s food needs, but also as a strategy to increase farmers’ income.
Until now, most people’s understanding of food self-sufficiency has been limited to having sufficient food supplies. However, it goes beyond that; it also encompasses the ability to sustainably produce one’s own food through increased production capacity, food diversification, and sound natural resource management.
Rio Johan Putra, an academic at the 17 August 1945 University in Jakarta, believes that food self-sufficiency is not merely a technical program. Food issues are at the heart of national independence and survival amidst global challenges.
He believes President Prabowo has prioritized food security, as it is a fundamental right and the foundation of national sovereignty. As the saying goes, “kill two birds with one stone,” the benefits of food self-sufficiency can be felt everywhere, including by farmers.
Food self-sufficiency can increase farmers’ incomes by increasing agricultural productivity supported by various efforts such as the use of appropriate agricultural technology, efficient land and water management, providing access to capital and technology, and strengthening agricultural infrastructure.
Increased production will ultimately strengthen farmers’ exchange rates and their well-being. Last August, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded an increase in the farmer’s exchange rate (NTP), reaching 123.57, a 0.76% increase compared to 122.64 in July 2025. Even compared to the same period last year, this figure has increased significantly, reaching 119.85 in August 2024.
The Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics at the Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Pudji Ismartini, revealed that the increase in the NTP occurred because the price index received by farmers (lt) rose by 0.84%, while the price index paid by farmers (lb) rose by 0.08%. The increase in the price index received by farmers was contributed by the commodities of rice, palm oil, corn, and garlic. The total lt figure in August 2025 was 153.95. Meanwhile, Pudji continued, the price index paid by farmers of 124.58 was contributed by the commodities of shallots, rice, cucumbers, and machine-rolled kretek cigarettes.
The Statistics Indonesia (BPS) defines the farmer’s exchange rate as an indicator of the purchasing power of rural farmers. The NTP also reflects the terms of trade of agricultural products for consumed goods and services, as well as production costs.
In addition, based on the subsector, the NTP that experienced the highest increase was food crops with an increase of 2.4% from 110.99 as of July 2025 to 113.65 as of August 2025. For example, the increase in NTP in the food crops subsector was felt in West Sulawesi.
Eka Khaerandy Oktafianto, an Associate Statistician and Head of Distribution Statistics for West Sulawesi Province, stated that the increase in the food crop subsector’s NTP indicates improvements in farmer welfare. He believes this increase is a positive signal for both farmers as producers and the public as consumers.
Eka acknowledged that the benefits of various government programs are also felt by the community. He believes policies such as support for the agricultural sector and price controls have had a direct impact on improving farmer welfare while maintaining market price stability.
Starting to bear fruit, the government continues its efforts to strengthen and ensure the sustainability of the food self-sufficiency program by increasing the Ministry of Agriculture’s budget in 2026 to IDR 40 trillion.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the budget will be used to increase rice production and other strategic commodities. He also explained that in 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture will focus on four programs: first, a program to increase the availability, access, and consumption of quality food; second, a program to increase the added value and competitiveness of the agricultural industry; third, a program to improve education and training on pumping; and fourth, a management support program.
Based on these four programs, the Ministry of Agriculture’s priority program plan for 2026 includes: first, increasing the production of rice, corn, and other strategic commodities, including meat, eggs, and cow’s milk; second, developing rice fields and optimizing land; third, providing water for agriculture, preparing superior seeds, agricultural machinery, and subsidized fertilizer; fourth, providing counseling and regeneration for farmers, and downstreaming agricultural commodities.
The Minister of Agriculture emphasized that the Ministry is committed to implementing President Prabowo’s directive to immediately increase the production of strategic food commodities. By 2026, the Ministry is targeting production of key commodities, including 33.8 million tons of rice, 22.7 million tons of corn, 343,000 tons of soybeans, 3 million tons of various chilies, 2 million tons of shallots, 786,000 tons of coffee, 633,000 tons of cocoa, 2.89 million tons of coconuts, 514,000 tons of beef and buffalo meat, and 4.3 million tons of chicken.
With the government’s budget allocated for the agricultural sector in 2026 and the production targets set by the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector should be optimistic that their welfare will improve in the years to come.
)* The author is an observer of agricultural socio-economic issues.