“We should not rely on food imports. Therefore, programs to ensure food availability, affordability, and security in Indonesia must be pursued,” said Arief Prasetyo Adi, Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas).
He added that President Prabowo Subianto’s food self-sufficiency targets can be achieved by increasing local food production and reducing dependency on imports.
Strengthening the availability, affordability, and security of domestic food is key to addressing global challenges while also creating opportunities for local food diversification, Adi noted.
As an example, he said staple foods such as bread could be made from cassava, while protein sources need not be imported since Indonesia has high-quality local fish, such as tongkol (mackerel tuna).
“It’s time to promote local food sources. This is both a challenge and an opportunity,” he said.
Adi also cited Presidential Regulation No. 81 on Accelerating Food Diversification Based on Local Resources, which encourages the use of domestically produced food.
He further stated that government rice reserves currently stand at around 4.15 million tons.
Adi concluded by urging all parties to support strategic government programs—such as the Free Nutritious Meals initiative and Village Cooperatives—to help build a fully integrated national food ecosystem from upstream to downstream.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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