Zulhas: 17 Provinces Begin Garlic Planting for Self-Sufficiency

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, known as Zulhas, has stated that 17 provinces in Indonesia will begin planting garlic in an effort to achieve self-sufficiency for the commodity.

"We are planting," Zulhas said in Jakarta on Friday during a press conference for the Financial Note and the 2027 Draft State Budget.

According to Zulhas, the 17 provinces will participate in simultaneous garlic planting, as the commodity is not yet self-sufficient and the country still relies on imports from several nations. Zulhas said that on 19 August, the Ministry of Agriculture, together with the National Police, will carry out garlic planting.

"Tomorrow, the 19th, it will be led by the National Police Chief, the Agriculture Minister, and others. Later, the President will launch the start of garlic planting in 17 provinces," he said.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto stated that within the past year, Indonesia has achieved self-sufficiency in eight food commodities: rice, maize, consumption sugar, industrial sugar, shallots, beef, buffalo meat, and soybeans, as part of efforts to strengthen national food security.

"In one year, Indonesia has achieved self-sufficiency in eight food commodities," Prabowo said in his speech at the 2026 Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly and the Joint Session of the Regional Representative Council and the House of Representatives at the Parliamentary Complex.

However, Prabowo acknowledged that there are still several commodities that have not reached self-sufficiency. One of these is garlic, which is targeted to be fulfilled independently within three years. "We are not yet self-sufficient in garlic; we are striving so that within three years we can achieve garlic self-sufficiency," Prabowo said.