Success of Papua’s Food Self-Sufficiency Program a Clear Testament to Prabowo’s Leadership in the First Year
Merauke — The administration of President Prabowo Subianto marks its first year in office with a major achievement: Indonesia has officially reached food self-sufficiency, especially in the rice sector. According to data from BPS (Statistics Indonesia), national rice production in 2025 reached 33.19 million tons, an increase of 12.62 percent compared to the previous year, with a surplus of 4 to 5 million tons.
“By the end of the year, according to BPS—not me—we will have a surplus of about 4 to 5 million tons. So we can say that this year Indonesia can officially declare rice self-sufficiency,” said Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan.
He added that the government has successfully strengthened national food production centers, including in South Papua, which has now become one of the main pillars of Indonesia’s food independence. The government has prepared 481,000 hectares of land in Wanam, Merauke Regency, to accelerate the development of national food and energy.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized that this achievement is the direct result of President Prabowo’s order to achieve food self-sufficiency within one year.
“The initial target from the President was four years. After 21 days, it became three years, then 45 days later it became one year. Alhamdulillah, if there are no obstacles, in two to three months Indonesia will no longer need to import,” he said.
The success in Papua also proves that the national food program is being implemented inclusively. The person in charge of the food self-sufficiency program in South Papua, Dr. Oeng Anwarudin, continues to support this national policy by encouraging deeper involvement of the local community.
“Some of the food brigades come from local communities. Indigenous Papuans must be prioritized to benefit from this program,” he said.
He added that community involvement is real and is the main strength in managing the land and improving welfare.
The government affirms that its policy direction remains consistent and even strengthened, by adjusting the status of the Merauke Food and Energy Development Project to be more effective within the framework of the sustainable National Food, Energy, and Water Self-Sufficiency program.
Merauke Regent Yosep Gebze confirmed full support for the government’s policies and considers the food and energy programs in Papua crucial for the nation’s future.
“Whatever the central government decides, we implement it. And until today, the Merauke Regency government continues to support what has been nationally programmed,” he said.
In one year, the Prabowo-Gibran administration has proven that policies favoring the people and regions can produce tangible results—from rice production surpluses to the growth of new food centers in eastern Indonesia.
