Prabowo: Secure Domestic Food Supplies to Face Global Crisis
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto reminded Perum Bulog to secure domestic food supplies before exporting to other countries, given the uncertainty surrounding when the global crisis will end.
During the inauguration of 1,061 Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih cooperatives in Nganjuk Regency, East Java, which was monitored online from Jakarta on Saturday, the President stated that amidst the increasing food crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East, Indonesia has successfully secured its food supply, and several countries are now looking to purchase commodities from the country.
“Where is the Director of Bulog? Don’t sell too cheaply, don’t set prices too low, but also don’t sell too cheaply. Remember, the crisis could last a long time; our priority is to secure our people first,” said the President.
According to Prabowo, demand has increased because several countries recently announced that they would freeze exports of their main commodities to maintain domestic supplies, including India and Bangladesh.
The President highlighted that Indonesia’s food self-sufficiency has been achieved through the joint efforts of the nation’s people, from farmers to members of the TNI and Polri, who have joined in working in the fields.
Therefore, he said, ensuring food independence is one of the conditions that the government continues to strive for, rather than simply seeking the lowest prices through imports to meet the needs of the community.
“The survival of the nation is not just about being cheaper, but about whether we have enough or not. And ultimately, history, fate, and reality have proven that because we have secured our food supply, whatever crisis occurs outside our country, we are relatively safer and better prepared to face challenges,” Prabowo said.
One way to realise this sovereignty is through the Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih cooperatives, one of whose roles is to support agricultural activities and the sale of key commodities in a region.
As of May 15, 2026, 9,182 Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih cooperative outlets have been built, with a target of building a total of 80,000 outlets in the next few years.
The government, through the state-owned enterprise PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, is currently building 25,000 additional cooperative units as of May 2026. The government also targets the completion and full operation of 30,000 Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih cooperative outlets by August 2026.