Prabowo's Surprise Visit to Bulog Magelang: IPB Professor: Proof the State Sides with Farmers
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR - President Prabowo Subianto visited the Bulog Danurejo Warehouse in Magelang on Saturday (18/4/2026). IPB Professor Ujang Sumarwan interprets this move as direct verification of the government’s claims regarding the strength of food stocks, as well as an affirmation of policy direction that increasingly favours farmers.
“The President is not just receiving reports. He comes to ensure whether what is conveyed is actually happening on the ground,” said Ujang on Sunday (19/4/2026).
From the observations, he assesses that the findings in the warehouse, with full capacity and high rice absorption, serve as proof that the national food reserves are not merely administrative figures.
“What is reported is what is found. Our rice stocks are indeed in a strong and controlled condition,” he stated.
Based on Government Rice Reserve (CBP) data, the current stock is around 4.8 million tonnes and continues to move towards 5 million tonnes, the highest in history. At the same time, national rice production is also showing an increasing trend, creating space for more stable stock strengthening.
For Ujang, this combination does not arise by chance. He describes it as the result of policies connected from upstream to downstream, starting from production at the farmer level to reserve management by the state.
“If the warehouse is full and absorption is high, it means there is strong production underneath. And that means farmers are working, and the policies support them,” he said.
At this point, Ujang highlights a more fundamental aspect: siding with farmers. He views the government’s policy direction, including the President’s direct descent to the field, as reflecting increasingly tangible attention to farmers as the main actors in food security.
“Siding with farmers is now increasingly evident. Policies do not just stop at concepts, but their impact is felt on the ground,” he stated.
According to him, the government’s concern for farmers is not merely a social approach, but a strategic foundation. Farmers, he said, are the backbone of the national food system. Without adequate protection and support, food stability is difficult to maintain.
“Care shows siding. And the state’s siding with farmers is the key. Because that is where production comes from, and from there food security is built,” said Ujang.
He added that what is seen at the Bulog Magelang Warehouse is the end result of this pro-farmer policy chain. Strong stocks, high absorption, and maintained distribution, according to him, are only possible if the state is consistently present, especially in supporting farmers.
“If the President has seen it himself and the results match, that becomes the strongest confirmation. And behind it, we see one important thing: the state is present, and farmers are not abandoned,” he stated.