Jakarta – The government continues to strengthen its commitment to realizing food self-sufficiency as an inseparable part of the grand strategy towards national sovereignty and independence. President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that food self-sufficiency is the main key to national security and a true symbol of national independence.
According to President Prabowo, a nation cannot be said to be independent if it still relies on food needs from abroad. Therefore, since the beginning of his career in politics, the struggle for food independence has been his main focus.
“There is no truly independent nation if the nation cannot produce its own food. Therefore, my struggle during my time in politics, I have always been focused and will not rest until Indonesia is self-sufficient in food,” President Prabowo said in his recent statement.
Furthermore, the President emphasized the importance of the active role of regional governments in creating a strong and independent agricultural ecosystem. He considered that food self-sufficiency is not only the task of the central government, but also the responsibility of all regions.
“It’s not just Indonesia that must be self-sufficient, every province must be self-sufficient in food. Every island must be able to stand on its own. This is the key to our independence, because we are the largest archipelagic country in the world,” he said.
In the same spirit, Home Minister Tito Karnavian encouraged regional governments to immediately take concrete steps to accelerate food self-sufficiency in their respective regions. He emphasized that food availability plays a vital role in maintaining national economic stability.
“Food is not only about availability, but also concerns inflation, purchasing power, and the regional economy,” explained Tito.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture expressed optimism about the ongoing efforts. Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman underlined the importance of the momentum of the early corn harvest this year as one of the real proofs that self-sufficiency is not just a dream.
“We want to make corn a strategic commodity, as important as rice. With the current harvest achievement, we are increasingly convinced that self-sufficiency is not a dream, but an ongoing process,” said Amran.
With synergy between the central and regional governments, as well as support from farmers and agricultural business actors, Indonesia is moving steadily towards food independence. Self-sufficiency is not just an ideal, but a necessity to maintain the nation’s dignity and ensure the welfare of future generations.
