Ibas Yudhoyono: Food Sovereignty is a Prerequisite for True Independence
Ngawi – Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, commonly known as Ibas, has affirmed that food is the foundation of national strength.
According to him, the world is currently facing uncertainty due to climate change, global food crises, and distribution disruptions. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation shows that over 700 million people worldwide still experience food insecurity. Indonesia, he stated, must not be included in this figure.
He made these remarks during a dialogue with millennial and Gen Z farmers in Ngawi District, East Java, on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
“A strong nation is one capable of feeding its own people. Food sovereignty is a prerequisite for true independence,” said Ibas in a statement released on Friday, 27 February 2026.
Nationally, Indonesia’s rice production in 2025 reached approximately 34-35 million tonnes, an increase of over 10 per cent compared to the previous year. The national harvest area has exceeded 11 million hectares, with the agricultural sector absorbing more than 29 per cent of the national workforce.
“This means one in three Indonesian workers is in the agricultural sector. This is the backbone of the nation. However, the farmers’ terms of trade remain volatile at 110-120. Welfare has not yet stabilised completely. This is a shared challenge,” he said.
Ibas described Ngawi as one of East Java’s strategic food granaries. However, he emphasised that Ngawi must not depend solely on rice production.
He encouraged the development of the hybrid maize sector, local soya beans, horticulture, integrated livestock farming, as well as organic agriculture and premium rice with higher market value.
“Do not simply plant the ordinary; plant that which adds value. Farmers must move into value addition, not merely raw production,” he said.
He also absorbed critical aspirations from farmers, ranging from fertiliser distribution issues, harvest grain prices, irrigation improvements, limitations of agricultural machinery, to access to capital.
As a demonstration of commitment, he outlined assistance realisation in Ngawi over recent years, including water pumps, four-wheel tractors, two-wheel tractors, handheld sprayers, power threshers, corn shellers, biofloc systems, community fish ponds, fish pond revitalisation, and agricultural equipment and plant vitamin assistance.
“This is not merely a programme. This is a form of real oversight and commitment. However, we must not stop,” he emphasised.