President Prabowo: Food is National Matter of Life and Death

President Prabowo Subianto inaugurates thousands of Red-White Cooperatives in Nganjuk regency, East Java province, on Saturday (05/16).

President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that food security is not merely an economic issue or a matter of trade commodities, but concerns the survival and sovereignty of a nation. The statement was delivered by the President during his remarks at the inauguration of the operations of 1,061 Red-White Village and Subdistrict Cooperatives (KDMP) in Nganjuk regency, East Java province, on Saturday (05/16).

“I have always said that food is a matter of life and death for a nation. I do not see food merely as a commodity. Food is a matter of a nation’s survival,” the President stressed.

On the occasion, President Prabowo highlighted Indonesia’s success in achieving food self-sufficiency amid various global challenges. According to the President, this achievement is the result of the government’s hard work together with farmers and all parties involved in the national food sector.

“I assigned the Minister of Agriculture and his entire team with the task. I asked for [food] self-sufficiency within four years. They achieved it in one year. I thank them,” he stated.

The President explained that, as head of state, he views food security as a direct responsibility that cannot be compromised. According to him, meeting the food needs of hundreds of millions of Indonesians is a great mandate that determines the nation’s future.

“I am the one responsible if this nation goes hungry. I am responsible,” he affirmed.

Furthermore, the President explained that his perspective on the importance of food was shaped by his military experience. As a former military commander, the President understands that the strength of a country is determined not only by weaponry, but also by the availability of food supplies.

“Before we went into operations, we checked how much rice we had. If the troops had no rice, if the troops did not eat, they could not fight,” the President remarked.

President Prabowo stressed that food should not be viewed solely through the lens of economic efficiency or lower prices through imports. According to him, the most important thing is ensuring that national food availability remains secure under any circumstances, especially amid global uncertainty.

The President also stated that Indonesia’s success in maintaining food security has begun attracting attention from other countries. Amid global dynamics and export restrictions on food in several countries, Indonesia has instead become one of the countries being asked to supply food needs.

“Now many countries are asking to buy rice from us. They are asking to buy rice from us,” he revealed.

Nevertheless, the President emphasized that the interests of the Indonesian people and the welfare of national farmers remain the government’s top priorities. The President instructed that every policy must maintain a balance between international solidarity and the protection of domestic interests.

“Do not stop [exports], but do not sell too cheaply either. Remember, this crisis could last a long time. Our priority is to secure our own people,” the President stressed.

The President considered the success in maintaining food security as proof that Indonesia possesses great capability to stand on its own strength. Therefore, the President invited all elements of the nation to abandon any sense of inferiority and build confidence in national capabilities.

“We must also dare to promote ourselves. Not by promoting falsehoods, but by promoting the truth,” the President concluded. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RD/LW)