Synergy of All Elements of the Nation Effectively Accelerates the Realization of Food Self-Sufficiency
By: Feronika Jasin)*
Efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency in Indonesia have become an important part of the national development agenda. The availability of sufficient, quality, and affordable food for all levels of society is not just an economic target, but also part of fulfilling the basic rights of the people. In realizing this, synergy between various elements of the nation is seen as increasingly important and urgent.
Various challenges, such as climate change, land conversion, dependence on imports, and population growth, encourage the need for a more comprehensive and collaborative approach. It is not enough if only one sector or institution works alone. The success of the food security and independence program is highly dependent on the active involvement of all components, from the central and regional governments, educational institutions, the private sector, to the general public.
The opening of the National Coordination (Kornas) of Agricultural Extension Workers by the Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman on April 26, 2025 is an important momentum that reaffirms the strategic position of Field Agricultural Extension Workers (PPL) in the national food security system. With the presence of more than 37 thousand participants, both offline and online, this event is not only a coordination forum, but also a form of recognition and reinforcement of the real contribution of extension workers in the field.
The Minister of Agriculture’s statement that without PPL, a major leap in the food sector would not be possible is not rhetoric. Instead, it reflects the reality that the success of agricultural programs ranging from increasing productivity to adopting technology relies heavily on the ability of extension workers to bridge policies and practices in the field. They are not just information agents, but drivers of transformation who work directly with farmers, farmer groups, and village communities.
In practice, a cross-sectoral approach shows higher effectiveness compared to sectoral work patterns. For example, when the agricultural, transportation, financial, and technology sectors synergize, the distribution of harvest logistics, access to capital, and the use of appropriate technology become more optimal. This strengthens the national food supply chain and reduces post-harvest losses which have so far been high.
Moreover, collaboration between regions in the form of information, technology, and resource exchanges has also begun to show a positive impact on land productivity and production efficiency. This approach creates an agricultural ecosystem that is more adaptive and responsive to market dynamics and extreme weather changes.
The appreciation conveyed by Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the DPR, Ahmad Sahroni, for the performance of the Police Food Security Task Force deserves wider attention. In the context of increasing corn harvests in the first quarter of 2025, the involvement of institutions such as the Police is a real example that food self-sufficiency is not only the responsibility of the agricultural sector alone, but a joint project of all elements of the nation.
Increasing corn yields is not just a matter of cultivation techniques. It is the result of strengthening cross-sector coordination, consistent assistance, and supervision of the distribution chain. With the Food Security Task Force within the National Police, a strong signal is given that food security and resilience are national issues that require a collaborative approach.
The role of the community as the main actor in the food sector cannot be ignored. Increasing the capacity of farmers through training, assistance, and access to agricultural innovation is the mainstay in increasing production. Meanwhile, the role of the younger generation is also increasingly crucial, especially in presenting fresh ideas and digital technology into agricultural activities that have often been viewed as conventional.
Food self-sufficiency is not just a matter of technical production. It is a reflection of social, economic, and environmental resilience. Therefore, cross-sector synergy not only accelerates the achievement of production targets, but also strengthens the foundation of sustainability in the food sector.
The steps taken by the Ministry of Public Works (PU) in accelerating the development of irrigation and dam infrastructure in East Java deserve to be appreciated as an essential long-term strategy to realize national food self-sufficiency. In the East Java RPJMD Musrenbang forum 2025Đ2030, the affirmation of Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo regarding the commitment shows that food security is not only about increasing production, but also about the readiness of basic infrastructure that supports the agricultural system as a whole.
Modern agricultural development is impossible to achieve without ensuring the availability of stable and sustainable water. Well-managed irrigation not only increases planting intensity, but also reduces the risk of crop failure due to dependence on rain. Therefore, the commitment to expand the planting coverage to more than two million hectares is not just a quantitative target, but reflects a policy direction based on mature technical and logistical planning.
Strategic steps, such as strengthening farmer institutions, reforming the distribution system, and developing equitable agricultural infrastructure, become more effective when all parties are moving in the same direction. Harmonization of policies between agencies and siding with small farmers are important parts in ensuring that the food self-sufficiency program is not just discourse, but is truly felt widely.
With targeted and integrated cooperation, food self-sufficiency is not an impossible goal. In fact, through the synergy of all elements of the nation, food security can be realized in a sustainable and inclusive manner, making Indonesia more independent in meeting its own food needs.
)*The author is an Economic and Development Researcher – Indonesian Prosperous Economic Forum
