Highest Food Reserves in History, President Prabowo Opens a New Chapter of National Independence
JAKARTA – The government of President Prabowo Subianto has recorded strategic achievements in its first six months, especially in the food and energy sectors. In his statement, President Prabowo appreciated the success of national food production which not only exceeded the target, but also recorded the largest rice and corn reserves in Indonesian history.
In the energy sector, significant steps were also taken with the inauguration of the initial production of the Forel and Terubuk Fields in Natuna, which produced an additional 20 thousand barrels of oil and 60 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
Economist from the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), Muhammad Rizal Taufiqurrahman, stated that this achievement is real evidence of the government’s commitment to realizing food and energy self-sufficiency.
“Food and energy self-sufficiency is an important part of national defense. This is not only a matter of physical resilience, but also economic and geopolitical resilience,” he said.
Rizal explained that self-sufficiency means a country’s ability to meet domestic needs without relying on imports, and being able to export its surplus production.
He assessed that this success would have a direct impact on increasing national economic growth, considering that the agricultural and energy sectors have made a large contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment, which in the agricultural sector alone has reached 45 million workers.
Furthermore, Rizal highlighted the great potential that Indonesia has, starting from the vast agricultural land that has not been optimally cultivated, to the richness of food biodiversity, such as sago, sorghum, corn, and soybeans. In addition, the potential for new and renewable energy such as biofuel, bioethanol, and marine energy is considered very large to be developed as a substitute for fossil energy.
According to him, the key to the success of the self-sufficiency program is consistent policy implementation, strict supervision, and political courage. The government also needs to take a firm stance against obstacles such as the food mafia and corrupt bureaucracy.
“With the synergy of all elements of the nation, food and energy independence is no longer just discourse, but a reality that can continue to be improved,” he added.
With these initial achievements, President Prabowo has opened a new chapter in the effort to make Indonesia a nation that is independent in terms of food and energy, two main pillars of national sovereignty. This extraordinary achievement deserves to be appreciated as an important milestone towards a more independent, strong, and sovereign Indonesia.
With the foundation that has been laid at the beginning of his leadership, President Prabowo has shown that food and energy independence is not just a dream, but a vision that is starting to be realized for the future of the nation. []
