TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto claimed that Indonesia has achieved food self-sufficiency within just one year of his presidency. This milestone, he noted, was reached ahead of the government's initial target of four years.
Furthermore, Prabowo asserted that national food security is relatively solid, meaning Indonesia faces no immediate risk of famine or supply shortages, even under the strain of the El Niño phenomenon.
"Amid the world's current concerns about mass starvation due to food shortages and unpredictable weather, I can, alhamdulillah (thank God), report to this assembly that food security is in place, and we will be able to face challenges, including the so-called most devastating El Niño," Prabowo said in his annual address at the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Friday, August 14, 2026.
Earlier, Prabowo stated that the government would need around four to five years to attain self-sufficiency in meat production. He voiced the projection during an official visit to Kebumen, Central Java, on May 23, 2026. "I believe we will reach meat self-sufficiency within four to five years," Prabowo remarked at the time.
According to him, Indonesia has secured self-sufficiency across several staple commodities, particularly rice and corn. However, he acknowledged that domestic production still falls short of meeting the nation's protein needs, including poultry, eggs, and meat.
"Our protein requirements—eggs, chicken, and meat—have yet to reach self-sufficiency," he said.
Nevertheless, Prabowo expressed confidence that Indonesia can progressively reduce its reliance on foreign food imports as domestic production ramps up.
Defining 'Self-Sufficiency'
Khudori, an observer from the Association of Indonesian Political Economy (AEPI), argued that the government must establish a precise definition of food self-sufficiency to allow for an objective evaluation of these claims. Khudori pointed to Law No. 18/2012 on Food, which covers a wide array of sectors ranging from agriculture, plantations, and forestry to fisheries, livestock, and food additives.
Given such a broad scope, Khudori contended that achieving complete food self-sufficiency across every sector remains difficult. "What is the definition of self-sufficiency? Does it mean that 90 percent of domestic demand can be met from domestic production, leaving room for 10 percent imports, or must it be 100 percent without imports, so that domestic demand must be met entirely from domestic production?" Khudori said, as quoted by Antara on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
He added that without a clear benchmark, the public will find it difficult to assess the actual success of the government's food policies. He pointed to rice as an example, noting that it effectively meets self-sufficiency criteria if the threshold is set at 90 percent local supply.
Data reveals that average rice imports between 2018 and 2024 accounted for only 3.85 percent of overall consumption. The import share peaked in 2024 at 15.03 percent, whereas in preceding and subsequent years it consistently stayed below 10 percent.
"This means that beyond 2024, Indonesia will be self-sufficient in rice, just like in 2025. So, should this be announced?" Khudori asked.
Record Stocks and Export Ambitions
Earlier, during a mass harvest event and formal food self-sufficiency announcement in Karawang, West Java, Prabowo proclaimed that Indonesia had entered a new era of food independence. He emphasized that this achievement was attained within a single year of his inauguration, far outpacing the original four-year roadmap.
"We have achieved self-sufficiency in just one year; we stand proudly on our own two feet and no longer depend on other nations," Prabowo asserted.
Regarding national rice reserves, the National Food Agency (Bapanas) reported that national rice stocks stood at 12.529 million tons in early 2026. This total includes 3.25 million tons in Government Rice Reserves (CBP) managed by state logistics agency Bulog, marking an all-time high. Given monthly national consumption averaging roughly 2.5 million tons, current reserves are projected to comfortably cover domestic needs through the end of the year.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman affirmed that strong domestic yields have allowed the government to halt rice imports completely in 2026. Instead, Indonesia is currently exploring potential rice export channels to several neighboring countries.
Sultan Abdurrahman and Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi contributed to this article.
Read: Prabowo Upbeat Indonesia's Economy Can Hit 6 Percent in 2026
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
