By: Agus Soepomo
President Prabowo Subianto has placed agriculture at the forefront of efforts to maintain national sovereignty. Through a series of programs designed by the government since the beginning of his leadership, the agricultural sector has been promoted as the primary driver of sustainable food security.
The concrete steps taken by the government are clear evidence that food sovereignty is not merely a political slogan, but rather a national strategy to address increasingly uncertain global dynamics.
The Prabowo administration is targeting food self-sufficiency while simultaneously laying the foundation for long-term sustainability. The program’s primary focus includes increasing government food reserves, developing supporting infrastructure, and supporting farmers through more favorable grain pricing policies. This is followed by the accelerated development of new food barns or food estates in various regions, including Merauke, a strategic location.
The budget allocation of IDR 164.4 trillion in 2025 demonstrates the government’s commitment to securing food availability. The budget is allocated to priority programs such as new rice fields, fertilizer subsidies, assistance with high-quality seeds, and modernization of agricultural equipment. The government is also targeting the largest food reserves in history, so that people’s needs can be met under any circumstances.
Innaka Ageng Rineksane, an agricultural expert from Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta, views President Prabowo’s policies as a crucial momentum for strengthening the national agricultural ecosystem.
According to him, farmer empowerment is a strategic key to strengthening food security while reducing dependence on imports. Policies that favor farmers, such as guaranteed harvest prices and easy access to quality fertilizers and seeds, are believed to boost motivation and productivity.
He emphasized the need for caution in new land clearing programs. He believes a thorough study is crucial to prevent forest conversion that is detrimental to the environment.
Innaka believes that a combination of extensification and intensification can produce optimal results, but in the long term, the use of modern technology is more effective. Mentoring through agricultural extension workers and the regeneration of technology-savvy millennial farmers are also prerequisites for the agricultural sector to transform sustainably.
President Prabowo himself emphasized that food self-sufficiency must be achieved immediately. On numerous occasions, he stated that a great nation is one capable of feeding its own people.
His inaugural speech in October 2024 marked the first milestone in this commitment. He emphasized food and energy sovereignty as a national priority that must be achieved as quickly as possible.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized that the government’s rice field development program was progressing according to schedule in several priority areas, such as South Papua, Kalimantan, and South Sumatra.
He was optimistic that the project’s completion target could be achieved on time. According to him, the national food stock is secure, with rice reserves reaching 4.2 million tons. The government is also conducting massive market operations to maintain price stability and food affordability through the provision of subsidized rice and social assistance.
These measures not only ensure short-term food availability but also strengthen the foundation of long-term resilience. With large food reserves, maintained price stability, and protected farmer welfare, the government’s agricultural program is projected to achieve sustainable food self-sufficiency.
Support also came from Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, who highlighted the role of the social forestry program in supporting food security. He explained that over 500,000 hectares of social forestry land has the potential for corn agroforestry.
Utilization of this land not only increases food production but also provides economic benefits for surrounding communities while preserving the forest. Thus, the social forestry program creates harmony between environmental conservation and improving farmer welfare.
Raja Juli Antoni added that the value of economic transactions from forest farmer groups and social forestry businesses will increase significantly by 2025, reaching trillions of rupiah. This growth demonstrates the forestry sector’s increasingly significant contribution to food self-sufficiency. The integration of agriculture with social forestry ultimately expands the production base while opening up opportunities for direct community participation.
Food security is not only a matter of the availability of staple foods, but also a matter of sovereignty.National pride and a key pillar of national security. President Prabowo recognizes that amid global geopolitical tensions, countries tend to prioritize their domestic interests. Therefore, food self-sufficiency must be achieved to prevent Indonesia from becoming dependent on imports, which could potentially destabilize national stability.
The current agricultural program is not merely a short-term solution to meet public consumption needs. More than that, the program represents a major strategy to guide Indonesia towards sustainable food security.
The combination of infrastructure development, farmer empowerment, crop price protection, and integration with social forestry demonstrates a clear path toward self-sufficiency.
Success in achieving sustainable food self-sufficiency will be a strategic legacy for future generations. With abundant natural resources, measured policies, and strong political commitment, Indonesia has a significant opportunity to make the agricultural sector a key foundation of national sovereignty. President Prabowo has clarified the path; now, consistent implementation will determine the future of the national food system. (*)
Economic Policy Consultant
