By: Aksara Dwi Wijayanto )*
The food self-sufficiency program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto’s administration is a national priority, consistently and measurably implemented. This program is not only intended to meet domestic food needs but also serves as a symbol of the nation’s independence and economic strength. Through a comprehensive approach, the government strives to ensure that every policy adopted has a direct impact on the well-being of the community, especially farmers, who are at the forefront of food production.
Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, emphasized the government’s full commitment to strengthening food security through the development of adequate water infrastructure. He explained that increasing grain prices, streamlining fertilizer distribution, and improving production roads are key focuses. This is expected to directly increase farmers’ incomes and help achieve the President’s food self-sufficiency target.
The Sermo Dam in Kulon Progo is considered a key component of food security, utilizing it to irrigate agricultural land by optimizing river flow. Furthermore, construction of the Cijurey Dam in Bogor continues to accelerate, with physical progress already exceeding 30 percent. The dam is designed to irrigate thousands of hectares of agricultural land, improve crop yields, reduce flood risk, provide raw water, and even generate electricity from micro-hydro power plants.
Furthermore, support for food self-sufficiency also came from the Ministry of Agriculture. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the government is now bringing renewed enthusiasm to revitalize the agricultural sector. He confirmed that the government has distributed rice and corn seeds to 60,000 hectares of land in Bone. This step aims to enable the region to become a strategic national food production center.
In addition to strengthening infrastructure and distributing aid, the government also prioritizes information transparency as a key pillar in its efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency. The Central Information Commission, along with women’s farmers’ organizations, is pushing for the widest possible access to agricultural information for all farmers. Accurate and equitable information is believed to help farmers determine the right seed varieties, choose the appropriate planting time, and anticipate market price fluctuations.
The government has also opened various public communication channels containing the latest policies and programs. This step allows for rapid and equitable information dissemination down to the village level, enabling farmers to quickly adjust their planting and land management strategies. This effort is expected to create more independent, innovative, and responsive farmers to changing field conditions.
The government’s approach reflects a synergy between physical development, human resource capacity building, and information provision. Supporting infrastructure is also a key pillar in maintaining water availability and ensuring the smooth distribution of agricultural products. Meanwhile, direct assistance with seeds and production inputs to strategic areas ensures that production increases are evenly distributed across Indonesia. Transparency of information serves as the glue that connects all these elements, ensuring that every policy is accessible, understood, and utilized by farmers in the field.
The positive impacts of this program are beginning to be seen in various regions. Agricultural production has increased significantly, grain prices remain stable, and distribution of agricultural products has become smoother thanks to infrastructure improvements. Farmers are beginning to benefit from government support, both in the form of easier access to fertilizer and adequate irrigation. This success demonstrates that the food self-sufficiency program is not just talk, but a concrete step implemented consistently.
Going forward, the government aims to achieve food self-sufficiency not only at the national level but also at every province and district level. Each region is expected to be able to meet its own food needs while contributing a surplus to national needs. This target requires ongoing collaboration between the central government, regional governments, the legislature, the business community, and the community. All parties have a vital role to play in ensuring the sustainability of sustainable food production.
Food self-sufficiency is key to national sovereignty. The success of this program will ensure every family in Indonesia has access to sufficient, quality, and affordable food. With robust infrastructure, solid synergy between the central and regional governments, and broad information transparency, Indonesia is on the right track to achieving true food self-sufficiency.
This success will also have broad economic impacts, from increasing farmers’ incomes, creating new jobs in the agricultural sector, to strengthening the agricultural processing industry in various regions. Thus, food self-sufficiency will not only contribute to food security but also become a driving force for an inclusive national economy.
The public is expected to continue to support the government’s initiatives. Active participation, a spirit of mutual cooperation, and an awareness that we are all part of the national food revival will be key drivers in realizing this goal. Together, Indonesia can build food sovereignty for the well-being of its people and the future of the nation.
)* The author is a Public Policy Observer