Khofifah Outlines East Java's Potential for National Food Sovereignty
Surabaya (ANTARA) - The Governor of East Java, Khofuitah Indar Parawansa, presented the province’s food potential to support national food sovereignty during a visit from 109 students from the Republic of Indonesia Defence University (Unhan RI) at the Grahadi State Building in Surabaya.
“Welcome to the Land of Majapahit, which always sows harmony, diversity, and the breath of Indonesianness through the optimism of the New Nusantara Gateway,” Khofifah stated in a release received in Surabaya on Wednesday.
Khofifah noted that East Java is not merely focusing on food security but has moved towards sustainable food sovereignty. This is evidenced by the East Java agricultural sector consistently ranking at the top nationally.
As a national food granary, East Java has been the province with the highest production of paddy and rice in the country from 2020 through to the first semester of 2026.
Based on production potential from January to October 2026, East Java’s paddy production is estimated to reach 9.86 million tonnes of dried milled grain, an increase of 5.13 per cent compared to the same period in 2025, equivalent to approximately 5.69 million tonnes of rice.
“Last year, Indonesia had truly achieved rice self-sufficiency. If we all have strong determination, God willing, this year we can achieve self-sufficiency in sugar for consumption without resorting to imports,” said Khofifah.
She stated that these efforts are supported by massive ratoon cropping measures and the revitalisation of several sugar factories, which will eventually increase capacity to over 80 per cent to maximise yields.
In addition to food crops, Khofifah identified the livestock sector as a supporting pillar for food sovereignty based on animal protein. East Java currently possesses the highest population of beef cattle in Indonesia, reaching approximately 3.5 million head.
“There is the BBIB Singosari, owned by the Ministry of Agriculture, located in Malang. This facility serves as a learning centre for inseminators and pregnancy supervisors, as well as a hub for developing superior livestock reproductive technology. We project that if we undertake massive development of beef cattle farming over the next three years, we can achieve meat self-sufficiency,” Khofifah remarked.
The visit also included the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) between the Defence University of Indonesia and several regional agencies of the East Java Provincial Government.
The Dean of the Faculty of National Security (FKN) at the Defence University, Major General TNI Dr Nefra Firdaus, stated that East Java was chosen as a site for practical field study because of its recognised experience in building regional resilience.
“This allows them to see the theories they have learned applied to the facts on the ground, which they will later use to provide input to the East Java Province in the context of Indonesian national security,” he added.