Zulhas Asserts National Food Surplus Amid Global Protectionism
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) has assured that the national food stock situation is currently safe and in surplus amid the trend of global protectionism.
Speaking at the 8th Congress of the Indonesian Muslim Community (KUII VIII) in Jakarta on Saturday, Zulhas emphasised that achieving food self-sufficiency is a matter of national honour as well as a tangible form of support for farmers.
The Coordinating Minister for Food highlighted current geopolitical dynamics that have prompted many countries to close their export taps in order to secure domestic supplies. Faced with this situation, Indonesia is deemed no longer able to rely solely on the free-market concept, which glorifies the freedom to buy without regard for sovereignty.
Zulhas explained that the government’s anticipatory measures through accelerated production have yielded significant results. Indonesia successfully ended its dependence on rice imports in 2025, recording a surplus of up to 4.2 million tonnes, in stark contrast to 2024, when the country still imported 4.5 million tonnes of rice.
Not only rice, but he assured that other strategic commodities, such as maize, consumption sugar, eggs, chicken meat and fisheries, have achieved supply self-sufficiency.
Zulhas said this reversal of fortunes would not have been possible without the government’s policy shift, which now prioritises farmers through improved farmgate prices for unhusked rice and easier access to fertiliser.
“That is why we must achieve self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency is the honour of farmers, the honour of our families and relatives. Food sovereignty is not merely an economic matter, but concerns the honour of the nation,” he said.
Zulhas criticised past policies that indulged imports to the point where farmers lost economic value, were forced to give up their land, and were relegated to becoming farm labourers.
Through the KUII VIII forum, he invited all Muslims to help address the fundamental problems faced by farmers and fishermen so that sovereignty can truly be realised at the grassroots level.
Beyond matters of the stomach, the government is now targeting national energy sovereignty using raw materials sourced from agricultural produce (biofuel).
“Now we are moving into energy. Diesel is done, and next we will produce E10 petrol gradually. Ethanol can come from cassava, maize or sugarcane. Food and energy resilience must truly be ensured so that this nation stands on its own two feet,” said Zulkifli Hasan.