By: Riska Aulia)*
Indonesia is currently at a crucial moment in ensuring food security and realizing its ambitious goal of achieving self-sufficiency. President Prabowo Subianto has firmly emphasized the government’s full commitment to increasing national food production to eliminate dependence on imports. He believes the country boasts fertile soil, abundant human resources, and continuously evolving technology. If managed seriously, all of this potential will provide significant capital to strengthen domestic food production and open up greater opportunities for new job creation.
The President emphasized that the success of self-sufficiency is not merely about food availability, but also concerns the nation’s dignity and sovereignty. He encouraged all ministries, regional governments, and farmers to work together to ensure that the Indonesian people have access to sufficient and affordable food. Food self-sufficiency is also believed to be a driving force for the rural economy, capable of absorbing more labor, both in the production, distribution, and agricultural processing sectors. Thus, national development not only strengthens national independence but also improves the welfare of the community more equitably.
In line with this directive, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized that the self-sufficiency program is not just talk, but concrete action. Agricultural land intensification, production equipment modernization, and strengthening national food reserves are currently underway in various regions. With the President’s full support and the hard work of farmers, the self-sufficiency target is believed to be achieved sooner than expected.
The Minister of Agriculture also emphasized that the national production program goes beyond simply increasing food quantity. The government aims to ensure the availability of fertilizer, superior seeds, and other production inputs to enable farmers to be more productive. This major agenda focuses on farmer welfare while maintaining price stability, thus not only improving the national food system but also providing direct benefits to the community.
The central government’s efforts are reinforced by concrete steps at the regional level. One example comes from Purwakarta, West Java. The local district government, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, has distributed sophisticated agricultural tools and machinery (alsintan) to farmers. Combine harvesters, for example, have become a symbol of the transformation of the agricultural sector there. Dubbed “agricultural transformers,” these machines can cut harvesting costs by up to 40 percent, while also saving farmers time. Harvesting one hectare previously took a full day, now only takes two to three hours.
Purwakarta Regent Saepul Bahri Binzein stated that the significant efficiency achieved by this modern machine is a real solution to the challenge of a dwindling agricultural workforce. Farmers have responded positively, as the technology not only reduces physical workload but also lowers production costs. This has improved their welfare and increased crop yields.
Purwakarta’s success demonstrates that the use of agricultural technology not only boosts productivity but also paves the way for achieving the dream of food self-sufficiency. The Acting Head of the Purwakarta Agriculture and Food Security Agency, Hadianto Purnama, even announced that machinery assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture can be loaned free of charge to farmers. This further bolsters farmers’ optimism about welcoming a bumper harvest with a production surplus.
These concrete steps demonstrate that the government isn’t just focusing on policy, but is actually getting involved and providing concrete solutions. Fertilizer subsidies, superior seeds, agricultural infrastructure development, and the use of modern technology are comprehensive strategies that lay the foundation for self-sufficiency.
However, the path to food self-sufficiency is certainly not without challenges. Climate change, limited land, and increasing population growth demand rapid adaptation. Therefore, innovation and collaboration are key. The government is encouraging the development of superior varieties that are resistant to extreme weather conditions, while expanding the use of idle land for food production. Furthermore, modern irrigation systems and the use of agricultural digitalization are also being continuously developed.
Food self-sufficiency is not just about production, but also about distribution. Therefore, the development of road infrastructure, warehouses, and markets is part of a broader strategy to ensure farmers’ harvests reach consumers quickly at affordable prices. The government recognizes that an efficient supply chain will strengthen the competitiveness of national food products both domestically and in export markets.
Ultimately, food self-sufficiency is a collective national goal. The central and regional governments, farmers, academics, and the private sector must work together. Public support is also crucial, as self-sufficiency is not just a government agenda, but a shared struggle to ensure Indonesia stands strong as a sovereign nation.
This optimism must be maintained. If the government consistently oversees policies, regions swiftly implement innovation, and farmers enthusiastically work with the support of modern technology, food self-sufficiency will no longer be a dream, but a reality that will be felt directly by all Indonesians. This success will not only guarantee food availability but also strengthen national pride, affirming that Indonesia is capable of standing on its own two feet.
)* The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute
