Prabowo Claims Indonesia Achieves Food Self-Sufficiency in One Year

President Prabowo Subianto has claimed that Indonesia achieved food self-sufficiency in just one year, surpassing the government’s original four-year target. Speaking during the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), he stated that the milestone was reached through the deregulation of fertiliser distribution, a 20% reduction in fertiliser prices, and strong cooperation between the central government, regional administrations, farmers, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the National Police (Polri).

“Due to our policies and hard work, we have achieved food self-sufficiency in one year, a target we initially set for four years,” Prabowo said in his address in Jakarta on Friday (14/8). He emphasised the importance of this achievement amid global concerns over food shortages and unpredictable weather patterns, asserting that Indonesia is now in a secure position regarding its food supply.

Prabowo detailed that the eight commodities now in surplus are rice, corn, consumer sugar, chicken meat, eggs, shallots, large chillies, and bird’s eye chillies. He acknowledged, however, that the government still faces challenges in achieving self-sufficiency for garlic, beef, and buffalo meat, with targets set for the next three to six years. “Essentially, for protein, we are already self-sufficient. Protein from fish, eggs, and chicken meat,” he noted.

The president highlighted the story of Joko Purnomo, a farmer from Purwosari Village in Ngawi, East Java, as an example of the policy’s impact. With government support in technology, irrigation, and fertiliser, Joko now harvests three times a year with a productivity of nine tonnes of paddy per hectare. Prabowo also pointed to the financial performance of state-owned fertiliser company PT Pupuk Indonesia, which saw its profits rise by 252.8% despite lower prices and increased supply volume.

Prabowo stressed that food security is a fundamental pillar of national strength, stating, “We may have the most powerful military and the most advanced aircraft, but without food, this nation would cease to exist.” He also revealed that the government has begun producing B50 diesel from palm oil and will stop importing diesel from 1 July 2026, as part of a broader push towards energy self-sufficiency.