The Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkiflagi Hasan (Zulhas), has\nrevealed several key steps that have been instrumental in Indonesia\nachieving rice self-sufficiency, even faster than previously targeted.\nAccording to him, this success was achieved through a series of policies\nfavouring farmers, ranging from the simplification of fertiliser\nregulations to an increase in grain prices.<\/p>\n
Zulhas stated that the food self-sufficiency policy is a primary\nagenda of President Prabowo Subianto\u2019s administration. He noted that the\npolicy represents an effort to correct a decades-old approach that\ntended to rely on imports whenever domestic supply was low. \u201cTherefore,\nthe President\u2019s core policy is that we must achieve food\nself-sufficiency, because self-sufficiency is sovereignty, and\nsovereignty is honour,\u201d said Zulhas during the CNBC Indonesia Economic\nUpdate 2026 on Tuesday (23\/6\/2026).<\/p>\n
He explained that the government\u2019s first step was to overhaul the\nmanagement of subsidised fertilisers. From evaluations, fertiliser\nabsorption had been low due to convoluted bureaucratic processes. \u201cWe\nlooked at fertiliser; the President Director of Pupuk Indonesia\npresented the data, and it turned out that fertiliser usage was only 6\nmillion tonnes. I saw that the regulations were complicated, rambling,\nand circular, resulting in only 6 million tonnes being absorbed,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Zulhas noted that the government eventually slashed fertiliser\ndistribution regulations from 145 rules to just three. Following the\nissuance of a Presidential Regulation, fertiliser can now be available\nbefore the planting season begins. \u201cI held meetings here only three\ntimes, and we cut 145 rules down to just three,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
As a result, fertiliser absorption in 2025 increased to 9.55 million\ntonnes, an increase of approximately 58% compared to previous levels.\n\u201cThe President immediately issued a Presidential Regulation that took\neffect in December. By January, fertiliser was available before\nplanting. In 2025, 9.55 million tonnes were absorbed, which is an\nincrease of about 58%,\u201d Zulhas stated.<\/p>\n
He mentioned that this increase in fertiliser usage contributed to a\nproductivity boost of around 7% to 8%. \u201cBecause the fertiliser is good,\nand we have shown support for farmers, improved the supply chain, and\nfixed the regulations, the 9.5 million tonne absorption has increased\nproductivity by about 7% to 8%,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In addition to fertiliser, the government has also overhauled the\nirrigation sector, which was previously identified as a major obstacle\nto increasing national food production. Based on government evaluations,\nwhile Indonesia\u2019s rice field area reaches approximately 7.4 million\nhectares, the actual planting area was only around 10 million hectares.\n\u201cWe studied the problem, and it was irrigation,\u201d said Zulhas.<\/p>\n
Consequently, the government amended regulations so that irrigation\nimprovements can be handled directly by the central government without\nbeing hindered by the division of authority between regional and central\ngovernments. \u201cWe proposed a Presidential Regulation to change this, so\nthat regardless of the size, irrigation can be worked on by the central\ngovernment. The President quickly issued the regulation, and the Public\nWorks budget was reallocated to complete the irrigation,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
The next strategy involved improving farmer welfare through grain\npricing policies. The government decided that the Reference Purchase\nPrice (HAP) for grain would be set at Rp6,500 per kilogram (kg) without\nmoisture content requirements, which previously often served as a\nloophole for price manipulation at the farmer level. \u201cWe decided that\ngrain prices would rise to Rp6,500 for any quality. No more notes on\n14-18% moisture content. Simply put, at harvest, we buy at Rp6,500 per\nkg, period,\u201d said Zulhas.<\/p>\n
He noted that this policy successfully increased farmers\u2019 interest in\nplanting rice, as the profits became more attractive. \u201cAlhamdulillah, in\n2025, up to this point, there is no more grain below Rp6,500 per kg. The\naverage grain price is at Rp6,500 per kg and above,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Zulhas mentioned that the combination of fertiliser and grain price\npolicies has provided a significant production boost. Coupled with\nfavourable seasonal conditions and the use of water pumps to anticipate\nwater shortages, Indonesia recorded a rice surplus of 4.2 million tonnes\nin 2025. Under these conditions, Indonesia will no longer import rice in\n2025. \u201cSo, we will not import rice again in 2025; instead, we have an\nexcess stock of 4.2 million tonnes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Moving forward, the government is preparing several steps to ensure\nthat rice self-sufficiency remains sustainable. One such measure is the\nnew rice field expansion programme in several regions, such as Merauke,\nCentral Kalimantan, and South Sumatra. \u201cWe are creating new rice fields;\nthere is one in Merauke that has been much discussed. We are just\nstarting to develop those fields. The Minister of Agriculture, Amran\nSulaiman, is also developing them in Central Kalimantan and South\nSumatra,\u201d said Zulhas.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the government is preparing protections for sustainable\nagricultural land to prevent it from being converted into residential or\nindustrial areas. \u201cTherefore, land designated as sustainable\nagricultural land can no longer be changed into anything else, whether\nit be houses or factories. It is not allowed anymore,\u201d he\nemphasised.<\/p>\n
The government is also collaborating with the National Research and\nInnovation Agency (BRIN) to develop superior varieties and seeds to\nincrease future rice productivity. \u201cWe are working with BRIN. We want\nthe development of new varieties and new seeds so that our rice\nproductivity increases significantly compared to before,\u201d he\nconcluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/food-self-sufficiency-accelerated-zulhas-needed-only-3-meetings-here-are-the-results-1782197544", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }