The Achievement of Food Self-Sufficiency in 2025 Enhances Farmers’ Welfare and National Food Reserves
By: Dini Asmirandah ) *
Food self-sufficiency in 2025 marks an important milestone in the history of Indonesian agriculture, as well as tangible proof of the government’s success in strengthening farmers’ welfare and national food security. Under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, food sovereignty has been placed at the core of national development, based on the conviction that without the ability to produce its own food, a nation cannot truly be considered independent.
This achievement of food self-sufficiency is not merely a production target, but the result of hard work across multiple sectors. National rice production in 2025 is projected to reach 34.71 million tons, exceeding domestic needs. This surplus serves as a foundation for supply stability and strengthens government rice reserves, which reached a record 4.2 million tons in mid-year. The distribution of rice for disaster response and stock management reflects the state’s presence in food governance, while also ensuring that agricultural commodity prices remain favorable for farmers. Guaranteed absorption by Perum BULOG has boosted farmers’ motivation to increase productivity, marking the success of pro-farmer policies implemented by the government.
The economic impact of this achievement is clearly visible. Agriculture has once again become a driving force of the national economy, with agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth reaching 10.52 percent in the first quarter of 2025—the highest level in the past 15 years. This performance not only underscores the sector’s contribution to the domestic economy, but also expands agricultural exports, which reached USD 38.33 billion from January to October 2025, generating a trade surplus of USD 18.79 billion. These results confirm that strengthening the agricultural sector plays a direct role in economic stability and national resilience.
This success is also reflected in improved farmer welfare. The Farmers’ Terms of Trade (Nilai Tukar Petani/NTP) in December 2025 reached 125.35 percent, the highest level in history. This figure indicates an increase in farmers’ purchasing power, driven by improved commodity prices and controlled production costs. Government measures such as raising farm-gate grain prices, lowering the cost of subsidized fertilizers, and accelerating fertilizer distribution have been key factors in boosting productivity and demonstrating tangible support for farmers. These policies prove that food self-sufficiency is not merely political rhetoric, but a concrete means of improving farmers’ welfare.
Food self-sufficiency in 2025 is a collective achievement, not the result of a single party’s efforts. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized that this success involves all elements of the nation, including relevant ministries, state-owned enterprises, Perum BULOG, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), field extension workers, and farmers themselves. Synergy between political leadership, bureaucratic support, and community commitment has been the key to achieving sustainable food sovereignty.
At the same time, this achievement opens opportunities to expand self-sufficiency to other strategic commodities, such as corn, sugar, meat, and milk. Indonesia possesses abundant natural resources and a large agricultural workforce, so with the right policies, national food independence can be strengthened more broadly. The government’s focus is not limited to rice production, but also on reinforcing the foundations of comprehensive national food security.
However, the success of food self-sufficiency must not stop at production figures and reserve levels. Aulia Furqon, Chair of the Environment and Forestry Division of PP KAMMI, emphasized the importance of sustainability and direct benefits for the community. He cautioned that food prices at the consumer level must remain affordable, distribution must be efficient, and policies must not sacrifice environmental sustainability or agrarian justice. Sustainable self-sufficiency must go hand in hand with farmer protection, ecological sustainability, and social justice, so that food sovereignty can truly be felt by all layers of society.
This achievement also reaffirms agriculture’s position as a major employment-absorbing sector. As of August 2025, 38.2 million people were employed in agriculture, with an increase of 0.38 million workers compared to the previous period. Contributing 26.07 percent of national employment, agriculture has once again proven its role as an inclusive and sustainable pillar of the economy.
Food self-sufficiency in 2025 symbolizes the Era of Indonesia’s Agricultural Revival. This program demonstrates that the combination of strong political leadership, progressive policies, and cross-sectoral collective efforts can create food sovereignty, improve farmers’ welfare, and strengthen the national economy. Going forward, the main challenge is to maintain this momentum so that agriculture becomes not only a source of production, but also a driver of sustainable, inclusive development oriented toward broad public welfare.
With this success, food self-sufficiency is no longer merely a number or a statistic, but a reflection of an agricultural development strategy that sides with farmers, strengthens food reserves, and affirms Indonesia’s position as a nation capable of managing its food resources independently. This achievement is proof that food sovereignty is not just a slogan, but a reality that brings direct benefits to both society and the state.
*) Researcher, Indonesia-Centric Studies Institute
