By: Nadira Citra Maheswari)*
The government continues to strengthen the direction of national development by prioritizing food security, amidst growing public demand, the dynamics of climate change, and global challenges that threaten the stability of the global food supply. The food self-sufficiency target has been reaffirmed as a crucial foundation for ensuring the nation’s independence in meeting basic needs sustainably.
These efforts are not only aimed at increasing production but also at strengthening the national agricultural ecosystem so that it can drive the village economy and open up more welfare opportunities for local communities. Through an increasingly integrated strategy, the government is implementing a series of programs ranging from increasing land productivity, agricultural modernization, strengthening farmers’ access to financing, and expanding agricultural infrastructure, ensuring that all elements of village development can thrive simultaneously.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that he will encourage the active role of the Indonesian Agricultural Engineering Association (Perteta) in developing the downstream processing of agricultural resources. This effort is expected to boost the national economy while achieving sustainable food self-sufficiency. Strengthening the agricultural sector as a pillar of food security is inseparable from the development of supporting infrastructure. Therefore, the government is continuing to reorganize irrigation networks, reservoirs, and dams to ensure a stable year-round water supply.
This infrastructure not only increases food crop productivity but also expands farming patterns previously hampered by seasonal and weather conditions. In addition to irrigation, improving the quality of roads, village bridges, and access to agricultural logistics are crucial factors in enabling farmers to transport their crops to market more quickly and efficiently. By reducing distribution costs and the risk of post-harvest damage, the economic value of agricultural products increases, opening up greater opportunities for increasing farmer incomes.
Riyono Caping, a member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), stated that increasing productivity in the agricultural sector plays a crucial role in maintaining national economic stability. This is achieved through strengthening food supplies, controlling commodity prices, and improving the sustainable welfare of farmers in various regions.
Furthermore, Eko Wahyudi, a member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), advocated for food price controls and accelerated agricultural technology innovation to strengthen food security and increase productivity, leading to food self-sufficiency. He emphasized that achieving the 2027 food self-sufficiency target requires increased production and stable cost of goods sold (HPP) controls, thereby improving the welfare of domestic farmers.
On the other hand, access to financing is a crucial element in accelerating the achievement of food self-sufficiency. The government is expanding a special financing program for the agricultural sector, offering interest relief and more accessible application requirements for smallholder farmers. This policy is designed to enable farmers to scale up their businesses, purchase modern production equipment, and finance other operational needs.
To ensure effective financing, various regional financial institutions are being strengthened to provide assistance to farmers in capital and risk management. Strengthening access to capital enables farming businesses to be more productive, thus not only supporting self-sufficiency targets but also stimulating broader village economic growth.
The government is also focusing on the development of strategic commodities such as rice, corn, soybeans, sugar, and meat, ensuring that each commodity has a clear production roadmap aligned with regional potential. This location-specific approach aims to maximize the geographic characteristics and soil conditions of each region, resulting in optimal harvest yields.
For example, certain areas are developed as rice centers based on technical irrigation, while others are directed towards corn or soybean production due to more suitable land characteristics. This approach makes food production more sustainable because each region can produce superior commodities that support national needs while simultaneously increasing local incomes.
To strengthen productivity, the government is developing a field assistance system through agricultural extension workers that is more responsive to farmers’ needs. The role of extension workers is being strengthened not only as providers of technical information but also as liaisons between farmers and technology, markets, and government programs. Digital transformation in the agricultural sector is also being accelerated by the introduction of an app-based agricultural information platform that provides data on weather, market prices, fertilizer availability, and recommendations for fertilization and pest control. With faster and more accurate access to information, farmers can make more informed production decisions, thereby reducing the risk of losses.
All of these steps demonstrate the government’s strong commitment to addressing the challenges of national food security amidst the uncertain global situation. Through integrated policies that encompass agricultural modernization, infrastructure development, access to capital, strengthening village institutions, food diversification, and developing technological innovation, the target of food self-sufficiency is not merely a short-term goal but a broader strategy for achieving national economic independence. As more villages emerge as food production and processing centers, local economies are boosted, community welfare improves, and national resilience is strengthened from the grassroots. Ultimately, food self-sufficiency is a crucial path to ensuring Indonesia has a solid economic foundation and is able to stand strong in facing future challenges.
*) The author is a Content Writer at Galaswara Digital Bureau