By: Gavin Asadit )*
The Indonesian government is intensifying strategic steps to accelerate the achievement of national food self-sufficiency by 2025. This effort is a priority in the national development agenda, which focuses on strengthening food self-sufficiency, improving farmer welfare, and controlling the stability of staple food prices.
The Ministry of Agriculture recorded that national rice production experienced a significant increase throughout 2025 compared to the previous year. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), national rice production through the third quarter reached more than 32 million tons, placing Indonesia in a surplus position for the next few months. This surge is supported by agricultural intensification programs, pumping in rain-fed areas, and massive improvements to irrigation networks throughout production centers.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the government will no longer rely on rice imports because this year’s harvest has shown very positive performance. He assessed that the increase in farmer productivity is the concrete result of various policies implemented simultaneously on the ground.
On the other hand, the subsidized fertilizer distribution program is now more targeted through the digitization of the Definitive Group Needs Plan (RDKK) system. The government is also expanding assistance for agricultural tools and machinery (alsintan) to enable farmers to improve the efficiency of planting and harvesting times. The success of increasing agricultural yields today is clear evidence of the synergy between the central and regional governments, as well as farmer groups throughout Indonesia.
President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized on numerous occasions that food self-sufficiency is a symbol of national sovereignty. During a limited cabinet meeting at the State Palace, the President stated that Indonesia must not continue to rely on imports to meet its people’s basic needs. The President believes that achieving food self-sufficiency will be crucial for national economic stability. He instructed relevant ministries to accelerate the integration of irrigation development, increased productivity, and the expansion of new agricultural land through modern technology-based approaches.
The President also emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, academics, and business actors to strengthen the national food ecosystem. He directed the National Food Agency, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, to build a food reserve system that is more adaptive to climate change and global dynamics. In his view, food self-sufficiency is not only about production, but also about maintaining people’s purchasing power and equitable distribution.
The Ministry of Agriculture is following up on this directive by strengthening three main programs: increasing land productivity, modernizing agricultural systems, and empowering millennial farmers. These programs focus on developing a new generation of technology-savvy farmers capable of managing agricultural businesses sustainably.
Furthermore, the government is also accelerating the Nusantara Food Barn (LPN) program in several strategic areas. Through this program, each province is encouraged to have a regional food warehouse and a nationally connected distribution system. This measure aims to maintain the stability of food supplies from the regional to the national level, while simultaneously strengthening food security in the face of potential global crises.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture continues to encourage the optimization of dryland and suboptimal land. This program is implemented through the use of water pumps, modern irrigation, and the provision of superior seeds adaptive to climate change. The government hopes this initiative will expand the scope of food production to non-traditional areas with significant development potential.
The increase in production is not only evident in rice, but also in corn and soybeans. Ministry of Agriculture data shows that national corn production increased by 9 percent compared to last year, while soybean production increased by 5 percent. The government views this trend as a positive signal to reduce dependence on imported raw materials for feed and processed foods.
The government is also strengthening the national food logistics system to ensure optimal absorption of farmers’ harvests. Through collaboration with state-owned food enterprises and the private sector, the government is building modern storage infrastructure, including cold storage and rice milling units, in production centers. This step is expected to minimize crop losses and improve the quality of products reaching consumers.
President Prabowo emphasized that the target of food self-sufficiency is not merely a political ambition, but a strategic step to strengthen national economic sovereignty. He assured that the government will continue to work hard to ensure Indonesia’s true self-sufficiency in food security.meet its food needs.
In his address, the President stated that achieving food self-sufficiency would symbolize the Indonesian nation’s ability to stand on its own two feet. He stated that this success was not only in the interest of the government, but also for future generations who would benefit from a strong and sovereign national food system.
)* Observer of Social and Community Issues
