Indonesia No Longer Dependent on Imports! President Prabowo’s Food and Water Self-Sufficiency Achieves Widespread Praise
By: Amalia Anjani
Indonesia is increasingly demonstrating its resilience in the food sector by reducing dependence on imports. Under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, the government has achieved significant milestones in realizing food and water self-sufficiency, receiving wide recognition from various sectors. The concrete actions taken have shown tangible results, strengthening national food security and saving large amounts of foreign exchange.
The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) has reiterated its support for the food self-sufficiency policy. Minister of Trade Budi Santoso stated that this achievement covers four main commodities: rice, sugar, salt, and corn. By reducing dependence on imports, Indonesia is able to save up to 5.2 billion US dollars. Funds previously allocated for imports can now be redirected to other sectors that support food security, such as fertilizer supply and agricultural production facilities.
The government’s efforts to increase domestic production have also had a broad impact on the welfare of farmers and fishermen. In addition to creating new jobs, this policy reduces Indonesia’s reliance on foreign markets for food needs. The continuing decline in sugar and salt imports over the past five years is proof that this policy is on the right track.
To support the achievement of the food self-sufficiency target by 2027, the synergy between the central and regional governments has been strengthened. One strategic effort is the coordination of food programs between the central government and East Java, a province with strengths in agriculture. Various commodities in East Java have shown self-sufficiency potential, including palm oil, processed fish, sugar, milk, shallots, soybeans, corn, and chicken meat. The success of this region serves as an example that the national self-sufficiency target can be achieved with the right strategy.
In addition to increasing production, the government is optimizing the storage system for agricultural products through the Warehouse Receipt System (SRG) program. Several warehouses have been set up to ensure food stocks are maintained and can be distributed evenly across the country. This effort is expected to improve distribution efficiency and prevent price fluctuations that harm both farmers and consumers.
The success of food self-sufficiency is also reflected in the rapid increase in national rice production in recent years. Firman Subagyo, a member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), praised the government’s tangible efforts to increase rice yields. Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) shows that rice production in the first quarter of this year was the highest in the past seven years, reaching 13.95 million tons. This highlights Indonesia’s growing ability to withstand global food crises, while other countries still face major challenges in rice production.
BPS Head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti also stated that the potential for rice production in the first quarter of 2025 is expected to be the highest in national production history over the past seven years. Rice production is projected to reach 24.22 million tons of milled dry unhusked rice (GKG), a significant increase compared to the previous year. In addition, the harvested rice area has increased by 26.42 percent compared to the previous year, demonstrating the success of the government’s agricultural productivity improvement strategies.
This success is not just a short-term achievement, but part of a larger strategy to ensure food security and long-term farmer welfare. The government continues to promote the optimization of agricultural land, strengthen irrigation systems, and develop agricultural technology to improve production efficiency. Food diversification is also a key focus, with efforts to expand corn planting areas and strengthen rice production on dry land.
From an economic perspective, food self-sufficiency brings tremendous benefits to the country. In addition to saving foreign exchange, the increase in domestic production strengthens national economic resilience. Indonesia is not only able to meet its own food needs but also has a great opportunity to export key commodities to global markets. This advantage positions Indonesia as an increasingly self-sufficient nation in the food sector while opening new opportunities for farmers and agricultural businesses.
Meanwhile, the government is also committed to improving agricultural infrastructure to ensure sustainable production. The expansion of irrigation systems and reservoirs is underway to ensure a stable water supply for agriculture. Investments in research and development are also a priority, with the aim of producing innovations in cultivation techniques and improving agricultural product quality.
In the long term, this self-sufficiency policy is expected to strengthen food security in the face of global challenges, including climate change and fluctuations in global food prices. By continually improving production efficiency and strengthening the agricultural sector’s resilience, Indonesia is on the right path to becoming self-sufficient in meeting its own food needs.
President Prabowo Subianto continues to reaffirm his commitment to making Indonesia a self-sufficient nation in food and water provision. Through targeted policies and cross-sector support, optimism for achieving self-sufficiency is growing stronger. With continued synergy between the government, farmers, and the private sector, Indonesia is on the right track to realize sustainable food security that will have a widespread impact on the welfare of the people.
)* The author is an agricultural observer.
