Johan Rosihan Calls for Halt to Garlic Imports: We Were Once Self-Sufficient

DPR RI Commission IV member Johan Rosihan is pushing the government to immediately end reliance on garlic imports and target national self-sufficiency once again. This was stated during a specific visit by Commission IV DPR RI along with its leaders and members.

Before the technical discussion, Commission IV DPR RI issued a joint statement regarding the commitment to gradually and measurably halt garlic imports while strengthening domestic production. The call ‘Garlic… Stop Imports, Self-Sufficiency’ became the main message of the agenda.

Johan said that Indonesia actually achieved garlic self-sufficiency in the 1990s era, with one of the centres in Sembalun, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). He assessed that this achievement is not impossible to attain again, even though the current production ecosystem has weakened due to the dominance of imports.

“We were once self-sufficient. That means it is very possible for us to achieve it again. But today we have lost the ecosystem because imports are too dominant and farmers do not receive sufficient protection,” Johan said in a written statement on Friday (10/4/2026).

He assessed that the entry of uncontrolled imported garlic, especially during the harvest season, is a factor that pressures prices at the farmer level and reduces interest in cultivation.

In addition, Johan also highlighted the need for policy evaluation, including the implementation of planting obligations for importers, which he deemed has not yet had a significant impact on increasing national production.

According to him, strengthening the upstream sector through the provision of superior seeds, increasing productivity, and developing integrated production centre areas with markets is the key to success.

“If we are serious about building from upstream to downstream and dare to control imports, I am confident that garlic self-sufficiency can be achieved again,” he stated.

Commission IV DPR RI also ensures that it will continue to oversee government policies to be more favourable to farmers and strengthen national food independence.