Zulhas Reveals National Progress Can Be Measured by Food Security

The Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, has revealed that food issues are vital to a nation. He considers food to be the foundation or the primary measure of a nation’s progress.

“Food is not just about rice on a plate with side dishes. No. Eating reflects the civilisation of a country. Where the food comes from, how it is eaten, and the process involved will be reflected in that nation,” stated Zulhas during the Lampung Financial Festival at Novotel Bandar Lampung on Saturday (5/9/2026).

Consequently, Zulhas noted that to encourage Indonesia to advance and become wealthy, the country needs to maintain its food security.

He cited that in 2024, Indonesia still imported 4.5 million tonnes of rice. This was deemed to cause hardship for Indonesian farmers, as they do not reap the benefits, unlike farmers in Thailand, Vietnam, and India.

The high volume of rice imports triggers a decrease in local paddy prices due to market oversupply, particularly during the peak harvest season.

“If our farmers are not prosperous, eventually their productivity will be low. If productivity is low, it will lead to massive poverty. Over time, these farmers will no longer have rice fields because of poverty. Their fields will be sold or pawned; that is the impact on food security,” he concluded.

Fortunately, he noted, Indonesia is continuously improving, such that by 2025, Indonesia will no longer need to import rice, allowing Indonesian farmers to become more prosperous.

“Their exchange rate has increased from one hundred and sixteen to one hundred and twenty-seven. At one hundred and twenty-seven, the exchange rate is higher. They can become more prosperous. They can afford to send their children to school and pay for motorcycle instalments. Alhamdulillah,” he explained.