PALMOILMAGAZINE, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, emphasized that achieving food sovereignty is the highest priority of his administration in addressing increasingly complex global challenges. His remarks were delivered during a keynote address at the prestigious 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), attended by global leaders and economic figures from around the world.
“The first duty of any government is to protect its people from hunger, poverty, and hardship in the face of global pressures,” President Prabowo asserted.
This strong commitment to food self-sufficiency, he continued, has been embedded into the core policies of the Merah Putih Cabinet under his leadership. “When I assumed office, my top priority was to realize food independence,” he stated, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from the Ministry of Agriculture’s official source.
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Speaking before an international audience representing the West, East, and the Global South, President Prabowo stressed the urgent need to strengthen national agriculture in the face of Indonesia’s rapidly growing population.
“Each year, five million new citizens must be fed. That’s equivalent to feeding an entire nation the size of Singapore annually,” he said.
The President went on to highlight key achievements in the agricultural sector within just seven months of his term. “We’ve increased rice and corn production by approximately 50%. Our national rice reserves now stand at 4.4 million tons—the highest in Indonesia’s history,” he proudly noted.
According to him, these achievements were made possible through targeted efficiency policies, anti-corruption measures, and deregulation initiatives that cut through red tape in the agricultural and food distribution sectors.
President Prabowo also advocated for a national development philosophy rooted not merely in global market trends, but tailored to local values and realities. He criticized the overreliance on free-market ideology that has influenced Southeast Asia in recent decades.
“We will not follow any extreme model. We choose the middle path—one that blends the innovative drive of capitalism with strategic government intervention to protect the vulnerable,” he explained.
In agriculture, this philosophy translates into strong support for smallholder farmers, production subsidies, and safeguards against market disparities. “Our goal is not to let only the top 1% enjoy prosperity. We aim for the greatest good for the greatest many,” he said, citing the guiding principle of his administration.
President Prabowo also highlighted the importance of global collaboration, especially through Indonesia’s membership in BRICS and the New Development Bank, both of which he believes can enhance investment and cooperation in food and energy security.
His address sent a clear message: under Prabowo’s leadership, agriculture will form the backbone of Indonesia’s pursuit of national resilience and a stable response to global crises. With policies grounded in equity, efficiency, and support for farmers, Indonesia is well-positioned to achieve sustainable food sovereignty in the near future.
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, who accompanied the President on his visit to Russia, reaffirmed that food sovereignty is a central pillar of President Prabowo’s vision, as outlined in the Astacita (Eight-Point Development Agenda).
“The government is not just pursuing food self-sufficiency anymore—we are talking about full food sovereignty,” Minister Amran said. “While many countries are facing food crises, Indonesia is demonstrating significant production gains. This proves that we are increasingly ready to take on a larger role in the global food system.” (P3)
