President Prabowo Affirms Food Sovereignty as National Security Core Pillar
President Prabowo chairs the 8th Plenary Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (08/06). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)
President Prabowo Subianto declared food sovereignty a non-negotiable foundation for Indonesia’s independence and resilience.
“I have long believed that whatever happens, our nation will be safe if we control our food. If we can secure our food supply, we can ensure that our people are fed,” President Prabowo remarked at the opening of the 8th Plenary Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (08/06).
The President noted that history has taught us that no nation can truly be sovereign without the ability to produce its own food, warning that the reliance on imports leaves countries vulnerable to foreign interference.
“It does not happen. It will not happen. No nation is sovereign without the ability to produce its own food. That is why food production is a strategic matter for me. Our nation has always been disrupted, or even sabotaged, through food. If another country wants to undermine us, they will target our food system,” he stated.
The President expressed gratitude for the Government’s progress in strengthening national food security. He credited the smooth transition from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, which allowed the program’s implementation to continue effectively. He also thanked all parties involved in driving this agenda forward.
The President also underscored the importance of inter-sectoral collective work in tackling challenges posed by parties aiming to secure one-sided benefits. “This is the result of teamwork. Minister of Agriculture, assisted by other ministers, driven by Minister of Finance, supported by the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the National Police, as well as the prosecutors. In our economy, we face actors with different agendas from ours,” he added.
He also warned that some economic players prioritize profit over public welfare and highlighted that the Government will not allow the people to be impoverished for the benefit of a select few.
“This is realism. We’re adults. We sit here in this cabinet. I am the President, then the Vice President, and all of us. We’re grown-ups. We can’t be lied to or fooled anymore. We want it to be good. We want opportunity for all, but we won’t accept the ongoing impoverishment of the Indonesian people,” he said.
President Prabowo reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building a strong food system. He stated that Indonesia now holds the largest government food reserves in its history, and farmers’ terms of trade are trending positive.
“Thank God, we’re heading in the right direction on food. Our government reserves are the highest on record, and the farmers’ terms of trade are rising,” he concluded. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (FI/MMB)
