Indonesia, as a country rooted in agriculture, is now taking bold steps toward food self-sufficiency under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership. To bolster long-term food security, Prabowo has set a goal to develop 3 million hectares of new rice fields across the archipelago. This ambitious initiative, aimed at ensuring Indonesia’s food resilience for the next 80 years, highlights a renewed focus on building the country’s agricultural backbone.
Following a recent high-level meeting at the State Palace, which included Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman, Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono, and Aris Marsudiyanto, Head of the Development Control and Special Investigation Agency, President Prabowo outlined his vision for addressing food security thorugh new rice fields.
Amran Sulaiman, speaking at a press conference after the meeting on Monday, October 28, 2024, emphasized the president’s directive to speed up the land development process for new rice fields.
“The president has tasked us with accelerating the development of rice fields. We’ve already begun work in Merauke and Central Kalimantan, and next will be South Kalimantan, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, and other provinces,” Amran said, noting the government’s regional approach to the project.
In addition to expanding farmland, Prabowo also stressed the importance of addressing farmers’ needs, particularly regarding fertilizers, and urged continuous efforts to maximize existing agricultural land.
Read also: Indonesia Officially Joins BRICS as a New Member Alongside 13 Other Nations
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sudaryono, shared that the administration’s goal is to develop 3 million hectares of new rice fields over the next 3-4 years. “Given the country’s growing population and shrinking farmland, the need for more agricultural land is urgent,” Sudaryono stated.
He explained that this initiative could provide food security for generations to come. “With these additional 3 million hectares, we can secure food supplies for at least 70-80 years, taking into account population growth and rising consumption,” he said.
The government is also carefully planning a framework for developing the land on both private and state-owned properties. “We’ll organize a commercial scheme for this project, but this does not mean cutting down protected forests. This strategy is about ensuring sustainability,” Sudaryono clarified, addressing potential environmental concerns.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance is working on budgeting for this program to turn Prabowo’s vision into reality. Deputy Finance Minister Anggito Abimanyu noted that the initial budget allocation will support the first million hectares of rice fields, gradually expanding to the full 3 million hectares.
“Building 3 million hectares will establish Indonesia as the world’s top rice producer. We’ll take it step-by-step, first focusing on 1 million hectares and then progressing further,” Anggito said during his speech at the Gadjah Mada University Vocational School Anniversary.
This drive for rice self-sufficiency is Prabowo’s top priority, and he has called on his ministers to fulfill the nation’s rice needs within the next five years, aiming to eliminate dependency on rice imports.
