InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA — As 2026 approaches, food self-sufficiency has once again become a top national priority. The government’s strategy is not merely political ambition, but a pressing need amid global price volatility, logistical disruptions, and Indonesia’s long-standing dependence on food imports. Yet, the road toward full self-sufficiency remains steep. Agricultural GDP growth continues to lag behind the national economy, the post-pandemic recovery remains sluggish, productivity is stagnant, and the adoption of modern technologies is uneven.
Inequality among key commodities also persists: rice remains relatively stable, corn is steadily improving, while soybeans and sugar continue to decline. Moreover, special rice imports, which exceeded 223,000 tons from January to July 2025, indicate that domestic output still falls short of national needs.
Amid global pressures and volatile food prices, the Food–Energy–Water Nexus has become increasingly central to policy discussions. The government is beginning to recognize the importance of integrating policies on water, energy, and food systems into a unified, mutually reinforcing framework. Without consistent governance, food self-sufficiency will remain out of reach.
From the legislature, Member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Endang Setyawati Thohari, emphasized that food resilience is not merely about boosting production. She highlighted the importance of clear regulations, land governance free from conflicts, and comprehensive protection for small farmers.
“Global risks—price fluctuations, geopolitical conflicts, and supply chain uncertainties—require Indonesia to build a much more resilient food system,” Endang said in an official statement quote by InfoSAWIT on Friday (5/12/2025).
According to her, agricultural transformation must be carried out comprehensively—from strengthening seed research, improving production input efficiency, and modernizing logistics to revitalizing irrigation infrastructure, which has long been a weak point in the sector. Through its budgeting and oversight functions, Commission IV remains committed to strengthening food sector financing and accelerating the implementation of the one-map policy to reduce land conflicts. Endang stressed that small farmers, local communities, and youth must be placed at the center of the food ecosystem through improved access to capital, technology, and fair partnerships.
From the fertilizer industry perspective, PT Pupuk Indonesia’s Director of Operations, Dwi Satriyo Annurogo, echoed similar concerns. He emphasized that agricultural productivity is inseparable from fertilizer availability, especially nitrogen-based fertilizers. With the projected surge in rice demand toward Indonesia Emas 2045, an additional 5.69 million tons of production must be secured through precise, efficient, and sustainable fertilization.
Dwi highlighted that national fertilizer production capacity remains adequate and continues to be improved. Distribution systems have also been modernized through digitalization—from command centers to monitoring dashboards and electronic recording systems ensuring transparent delivery of subsidized fertilizer down to the farmer level. Going forward, PIHC will intensify energy efficiency, expand precision fertilization, and prepare new factory development in eastern Indonesia to strengthen the national supply chain. These efforts, he noted, form a crucial foundation for transitioning toward modern, low-emission agriculture.
Deeper analysis came from INDEF. Abra Talattov, Head of the Center for Food, Energy, and Sustainable Development, reviewed agricultural performance using quarterly data since 2015. Agricultural growth reached around 4.9% in Q3 2025, yet its fluctuations remain wider than the more stable national GDP, which consistently exceeds 5%.
“Our agricultural sector has not yet structurally recovered from the pandemic,” Abra said.
Data shows that rice and corn output has improved, but strategic commodities such as sugar and soybeans remain stagnant or declining. Meanwhile, demand for imported food items—wheat, sugar, soybeans—continues to rise without sufficient domestic capacity to keep up. This condition has further weakened the 2025 food balance, particularly in terms of supply stability and price resilience.
Looking ahead to food risk in 2026, Abra warned of potential distribution disruptions, suboptimal institutional coordination, and rising production costs that may strain consumer purchasing power. He also noted that subsidies and food-related social protection programs could put additional pressure on fiscal space if not managed efficiently.
For these reasons, Abra emphasized that the Food–Energy–Water Nexus is no longer optional but essential. Integrated governance of water, energy, and food systems will determine Indonesia’s resilience amid global crises. According to him, only through productivity enhancement, supply chain efficiency, better data quality, and consistent governance can agriculture once again become a key driver of national economic growth. (T1)
