In modern slang, \u2018on trend\u2019 refers to something that is currently\npopular or fashionable. In the world of social media, being \u2018on trend\u2019\nis always linked to what is viral or a popular topic of discussion among\nthe public.<\/p>\n
\u2018On-trend\u2019 rice self-sufficiency can be interpreted as rice\nself-sufficiency that is unsustainable or merely temporary, rather than\na long-term achievement. In this context, \u2018on trend\u2019 refers to a\ntransient nature that follows a trend, rather than a stable and\nsustainable accomplishment.<\/p>\n
There are several reasons why \u2018on\u2019 trend rice self-sufficiency can\noccur. Firstly, the existence of unsustainable policies; inconsistent or\nunsustainable government policies can cause rice self-sufficiency to be\nmerely temporary. Secondly, a dependence on external factors; reliance\non imports or other external factors can make rice self-sufficiency\nunstable. Thirdly, a lack of investment in the agricultural sector can\nprevent significant increases in rice production. And fourthly, the\nimpact of climate change, which can affect rice production and render\nself-sufficiency unsustainable. Notably, \u2018on-trend\u2019 rice\nself-sufficiency can occur due to a combination of these factors.<\/p>\n
For this nation, achieving rice self-sufficiency is not a new\nphenomenon. During the New Order era, specifically in 1984, Indonesia\nreceived its first award from the Food and Agriculture Organization\n(FAO) for its achievement in reaching rice self-sufficiency. Later, in\n2023, Indonesia received an award from the International Rice Research\nInstitute (IRRI) regarding rice self-sufficiency.<\/p>\n
Therefore, if the administration of President Prabowo intends to make\nfood self-sufficiency one of its priority programmes, there is no harm\nin the \u2018Red and White\u2019 Cabinet looking to the previous successes in rice\nself-sufficiency. Many believe that rice self-sufficiency is the gateway\nto overall food self-sufficiency. With abundant production such that\nGovernment rice reserves can exceed 3 million tonnes, combined with the\nintention to cease rice imports starting in 2025, many conclude that\nIndonesia has effectively achieved rice self-sufficiency once again.<\/p>\n
The critical question is: are we capable of realising a sustainable\nor permanent rice self-sufficiency starting now? This is the answer we\nneed. This is interesting because the rice self-sufficiency achieved so\nfar tends to be \u2018on trend\u2019. This means that while we were able to write\na success story of self-sufficiency in 1984, a few years later, we once\nagain imported significant amounts of rice. Consequently, this nation\ncannot claim to be self-sufficient.<\/p>\n
The same occurred in 2023. After being honoured by the IRRI, which is\nsupported by the FAO, the government announced the success of boosting\nproduction to achieve self-sufficiency. However, shortly thereafter, the\nGovernment was forced to import rice because domestic production could\nnot meet domestic demand.<\/p>\n
Climate anomalies, such as El Ni\u00f1o, left many nations unable to find\nan ideal solution. For our nation, which was also preparing for the\n\u2018Democracy Feast\u2019, Indonesia once again faced a \u2018rice emergency\u2019.\nConsequently, rice imports became the policy choice that had to be\ntaken.<\/p>\n
In 2024, national rice production was truly distressing. This was not\nonly due to climate and weather conditions that were unfavourable to\nagriculture, but also the impact of white-collar crime within the\nMinistry of Agriculture involving the then-Minister of Agriculture,\nwhich was felt in 2024. The national rice production yielded was\nsignificantly lower than the previous year.<\/p>\n
Even more distressing was the fact that the rice imports undertaken\nfor 2024 reached a spectacular figure. According to the Central Bureau\nof Statistics (BPS), rice imports in 2024 exceeded 4 million tonnes.\nThis occurred despite President Jokowi previously expressing his\nhappiness because Indonesia received an award for its success in\nachieving rice self-sufficiency.<\/p>\n
Such experiences should remind us that the task of realising rice\nself-sufficiency is not only about the fanfare of achievement, but\nequally important is the preservation of what has been attained. The\nrice self-sufficiency achieved must be sustainable; it can no longer be\nmerely \u2018on-trend\u2019 rice self-sufficiency.<\/p>\n
We ought to stop \u2018on-trend\u2019 rice self-sufficiency. We must strive to\nimmediately transform it into sustainable rice self-sufficiency. As a\nnation of fighters, we must work hard to ensure that the success story\nof rice self-sufficiency remains our nation\u2019s \u2018trademark\u2019. In other\nwords, sustainable rice self-sufficiency is a \u2018non-negotiable\u2019 priority\nthat must be seriously guarded and secured.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-trap-of-on-trend-rice-self-sufficiency-1782705168", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }