Prabowo Showcases 19 Months as Indonesia's President: Rice and Maize Self-Sufficiency

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto outlined his government’s achievements after 19 months in office since his inauguration in October 2024. Prabowo said Indonesia has achieved food self-sufficiency, particularly in rice and maize. “One year and seven months. So 19 months. Nineteen months, Alhamdulillah, a lot has been achieved, right? We are now self-sufficient in food. We are self-sufficient in rice and maize,” Prabowo said in Kebumen, Central Java, on Saturday, 23 May 2026, quoted from the YouTube channel of the Presidential Secretariat. Prabowo said the government also aims to achieve beef self-sufficiency in the coming years. “Then, our protein, eggs, poultry, beef, these are still not. This is being worked on; perhaps four to five more years we will achieve beef self-sufficiency,” he said. Nevertheless, overall, the food situation in the country remains relatively secure despite wars taking place in various parts of the world. The Head of State expressed relief that Indonesia is not involved in war. However, he urged vigilance. Prabowo urged Indonesia to build defence capabilities to safeguard Indonesia’s natural wealth. “And now, our wealth, we manage ourselves. We do not want our wealth to be continually toyed with by certain people, by certain countries,” Prabowo added.