By: Adhika Utama
In the face of constantly changing global dynamics, food security is a primary concern for the Indonesian government. Against the backdrop of fluctuating global economic conditions, extreme climate change, and various challenges to the global supply chain, the government has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to safeguarding national food sovereignty. One strategic step currently being taken is the target of accelerating food self-sufficiency, with significant achievements within three months.
This measure was announced directly by President Prabowo Subianto during a limited cabinet meeting to discuss the overall national food situation. The President stated that food sovereignty is a key pillar in building a strong and competitive nation. According to him, a country’s ability to feed its people from its own agricultural produce is a tangible manifestation of national independence and strength. Therefore, the government is mobilizing all available resources to ensure accelerated food production and efficiency in various regions.
The government has prepared various strategic policies to support this target. One of the main steps being implemented is optimizing idle land that has not been fully utilized. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture indicates that millions of hectares of potential land are spread across Indonesia. This land is now being redeveloped through cross-sectoral collaboration involving the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), regional governments, and local farmer groups. The focus is on areas with favorable irrigation and rainfall conditions, thus rapidly and significantly boosting agricultural productivity.
To encourage increased productivity, the government also distributes direct assistance to farmers in the form of superior seeds, subsidized fertilizer, and modern agricultural tools and machinery. This assistance is provided at a significant increase compared to previous years. This step demonstrates the government’s close attention to the needs of farmers, who are the spearhead of national food security. Recipient data is collected digitally through the e-RDKK platform, enabling more accurate, equitable, and tailored distribution to field needs.
In addition to strengthening production, the government is also preparing strategies for the distribution and absorption of harvested crops. The Logistics Agency (Bulog) is given a central role in maximizing the absorption of farmers’ harvests. The government ensures that purchase prices for harvested crops remain stable and profitable for farmers. Adjustments to the Government Purchase Price (HPP) are being implemented to further motivate farmers to increase their yields. With Bulog’s support, harvests will be distributed effectively to various regions, ensuring that the community’s food needs are met.
The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, also emphasized that the three-month self-sufficiency target is part of a long-term strategy to achieve sustainable food independence. Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman explained that this target is the starting point for significantly increasing national food production and reducing dependence on imports. Significant production increases are expected to be achieved within three months and provide a solid foundation for future agricultural sector development.
Broad community participation is also a crucial element in achieving self-sufficiency. The government is encouraging all levels of society to contribute through independent agricultural initiatives, such as urban farming, utilizing home gardens, and campaigns for local food consumption. The “Plant, Pick, Eat Yourself” movement has been reinvigorated as an effort to build collective awareness that food security begins at home. Agricultural technologies such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming are being widely introduced so that urban communities can also play an active role in supporting national food security.
To support the transformation of the agricultural sector, the government is also engaging the private sector in mutually beneficial partnership schemes. The “inclusive closed-loop farming” scheme encourages large companies to collaborate with local farmers, from seed provision and training to technical assistance, to harvest absorption and market distribution. This collaboration serves as a bridge to accelerate agricultural modernization and open broader market access for farmers.
This collaborative effort demonstrates that food self-sufficiency is not solely the government’s responsibility, but a national movement involving all elements of the nation. With synergy between the government, farmers, communities, and the business world, the target of achieving food self-sufficiency within three months is a shared, achievable goal.
The steps taken demonstrate the government’s strong determination to realize a self-sufficient Indonesia in the food sector. This commitment lays a solid foundation for the future of national agriculture. With a spirit of mutual cooperation, technological innovation, and the fighting spirit of all Indonesians, food self-sufficiency can not only be achieved quickly but also maintained for future generations.
Indonesia has the potential to become not only a food self-sufficient nation but also a global food basket. With full support from all levels of society, this three-month target will mark the beginning of a brighter, more productive, and more sovereign future for Indonesian agriculture.
)* Public Policy Observer
