Dependence on imports opens the door to foreign interference,
Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Prabowo Subianto has shown strong commitment to food security and sovereignty in his first year in office, a leading academic said on Monday.
Prof. Abdul Haris Fatgehipon of Jakarta State University (UNJ) said that the realization of food sovereignty is a fundamental prerequisite for true national independence.
“President Prabowo consistently emphasizes food self-sufficiency. Dependence on imports opens the door to foreign interference,” he said in a statement here on Monday.
Haris praised Prabowo’s collaborative approach, which involves state institutions, local governments, state-owned enterprises, the military, police, and regional intelligence agencies to boost national food production.
He argued that food sovereignty cannot rely solely on technical ministries but must become a cross-sector national movement, citing discussions with local government officials in Maluku as proof of grassroots implementation.
Indonesia, he said, must reclaim its identity as an agrarian and maritime nation.
Haris cited Indonesia’s early diplomatic efforts, recalling how Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir sent 500,000 tons of rice to famine-stricken India in 1946.
“That was rice diplomacy at its finest. Indonesia had just gained independence and was already helping others,” he said.
Prabowo’s agricultural policy, he added, mirrors the pro-farmer stance of former President Suharto, focusing on increasing productivity and farmer welfare. Key measures include raising the government’s rice purchase price to Rp6,500 per kilogram in 2025, expanding fertilizer subsidies based on national ID cards, and increasing the agriculture budget.
Haris also referred to Presidential Instruction No. 3/2025, which places all agricultural extension officers directly under the Ministry of Agriculture to improve field outreach and efficiency.
In addition, the government has accelerated the construction of 48 dams and nine irrigation systems, all designated as National Strategic Projects.
He stressed the need to promote local food sources such as sago, corn, and tubers, which are better suited to regional ecosystems and public health.
“Local food policy must be strengthened so communities aren’t fully reliant on rice,” Haris said.
On food security, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the government is accelerating efforts toward food self-sufficiency as a strategic move to strengthen national resilience and improve farmer welfare.
In a recent statement, Zulkifli said the policy has begun to deliver significant results. Within one year, the farmer terms of trade index rose from 101–106 to 124.
President Prabowo has also signed Presidential Decree No. 19 of 2025, establishing a Coordinating Team for the Acceleration of Food, Energy, and Water Self-Sufficiency Zones.
The team reports directly to the president and is tasked with synchronizing, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and overseeing the program’s implementation. Zulkifli also noted a strong improvement in national rice production, reporting a current surplus of four million tons.
“Last year, we imported 4.5 million tons of rice. Today, Bulog’s warehouses are holding a four million ton surplus,” he said.
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Translator: Agatha OV, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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