Articulating food security under President Prabowo in a democratic climate

Jakarta, IO – Food security has emerged as one of the top priorities under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. With the acceleration of the food sector, Indonesia has a strategic opportunity to reaffirm its identity as an agrarian nation, one increasingly less dependent on imports of essential commodities. This ambition is not merely driven by domestic interests, but also carries broader significance in the international arena.

Through the Asta Cita agenda, President Prabowo has demonstrated a clear commitment to maximizing Indonesia’s vast natural potential. The introduction of the Green Paper could serve as a crucial roadmap in advancing the country’s food resilience, during his term of administration.

According to data from Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, Indonesia’s rice reserves have reached an historic milestone, with national stockpiles surpassing 5 million tons by mid-2026 — the highest level in the nation’s history. Total government rice reserves have reached 5.3 million tons, exceeding the previous record, set in 1984. Meanwhile, National Food Agency projects that food balances for 11 key commodities remain secure, with eight commodities already achieving self-sufficiency, including feed corn, large chilis, cayenne pepper, shallots, consumer sugar, chicken meat and eggs.

Indonesia’s food security and food sovereignty are currently in a relatively strong position, though vulnerabilities remain. Global market volatility, climate change and continued import dependency on certain commodities still pose significant challenges. Nationally, Indonesia’s food security index stands at around 73, placing the country in a competitive position globally. However, more inclusive and equitable progress remains necessary, particularly in eastern Indonesia.

Strategic interventions are essential to accelerate behavioral changes across society, on a larger scale. Further studies are needed to determine the most effective interventions tailored to local communities, ensuring that policy implementation is more targeted — whether in media channels, priority groups or consumer incentives.

In reality, Indonesia possesses the capacity not only to achieve food self-sufficiency but also to establish true food independence and sovereignty. More importantly, the country has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to global food security. Strategic commodities among the 11 key food categories include rice, corn and beef, are already in surplus. Nevertheless, deficits remain, in commodities such as soybeans, wheat, dairy products, and fruits.

Food diversification strategies have however yet to be fully optimized. Food security discussions in Indonesia often remain overly centered on rice, despite the country’s extraordinary diversity of food sources, including corn, tubers and sago. The gradual cultural shift toward rice as the dominant staple food, replacing traditional staples such as corn, cassava and sago, has arguably impaired the resilience of Indonesia’s food system.

Key Targets for Food Self-Sufficiency

Several strategic targets could shape Indonesia’s food future. If we can maintain its current surplus of 5.3 million tons this year, Indonesia may not only sustain but potentially exceed future rice production targets, creating export opportunities for countries dependent on rice imports.

Attention is now directed toward upcoming data releases from the Ministry of Agriculture regarding other key commodities such as chili, sugarcane, salt, cassava, sweet potatoes, and alternative staple foods. The government’s determination to strengthen the food sector has been widely regarded as a positive step, particularly in leveraging Indonesia’s agricultural potential, while supporting local farmers.

However, food resilience requires more than production increases. Farmers also need meaningful support in harvesting, drying, milling, polishing, sorting, packaging and marketing, to ensure competitive pricing. The proposed Koperasi Desa Merah Putih should not remain a mere concept. Instead, it requires serious evaluation and implementation to effectively help local farmers market their agricultural products. With well-managed price ceilings and government-supported pricing mechanisms, domestic market development could be streamlined, while ensuring affordable prices for consumers.

Ultimately, food security is not solely an item of a government agenda. It is fundamentally tied to the welfare of the Indonesian people. Agricultural productivity, driven by local farmers, alongside traditional market traders, can strengthen economic circulation at the grassroots level, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), thus remaining the backbone of Indonesia’s domestic economy.

From Import Dependence to Export Strength

Indonesia’s acceleration in the food sector should not be viewed solely through a lens of domestic food security. More importantly, it opens opportunities for export expansion, at a time when many countries face food shortages, tracking increasingly unpredictable climate conditions.

Beyond export opportunities, Indonesia also has the potential to strengthen its position within such international institutions as the Food and Agriculture Organization. This would reinforce regional stability, while raising Indonesia’s political profile on a global stage.

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According to FAO records, Indonesia is well-positioned to become one of the world’s key drivers in the global food landscape in 2026. While many countries are harvesting less, Indonesia is recording surplus production and enjoying higher yields. This message was clearly reflected in the June 2026 edition of Food Outlook, FAO’s flagship biannual report on global food markets, where the organization Indonesia’s rice production is projected to reach 38.6 million tons (milled basis) during 2026– 2027, a significant increase over the 34.0 million tons in 2024–2025.

Indonesia’s aspiration to emerge as an advanced nation with strong food sovereignty is far from unrealistic. If the country can expand exports of horticultural products and strategic food commodities to such markets as Singapore, China and Saudi Arabia, the economic benefits could be substantial. Expanding market access beyond G20 and G7 countries, through high-quality food exports, would significantly strengthen national revenue.

President Prabowo appears to have carefully assessed the immense value of Indonesia’s natural resources. This is no longer merely about diplomacy. It is about economic growth, strategic resilience and Indonesia’s growing voice in international affairs. The ultimate goal extends beyond achieving central positioning in global discussions — it is about transforming Indonesia into a developed nation with full food sovereignty by 2045.