Food security is a critical issue for any nation, as stated by Prabowo Subianto in his book “National Transformation Strategy: Towards Golden Indonesia 2045.” He emphasizes the importance of viewing food strategically, as it is essential for survival. Prabowo urges the government and ruling parties to focus on developing the agricultural sector to reduce dependency on food imports. This is crucial to avoid food shortages during times of economic instability.
Indonesia, being a tropical country occupying one-third of the world’s tropical zone, has the advantage of being able to harvest crops three times a year. This is in contrast to temperate countries where harvesting is limited to once a year due to long winters. The quicker maturity of crops in Indonesia, compared to temperate countries, provides a significant advantage in agricultural production.
Throughout history, other nations have exploited Indonesia’s wealth, particularly in agricultural products such as spices, rubber, tea, and coffee. Prabowo emphasizes the need to leverage Indonesia’s strengths in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry to drive economic resilience and growth. The proper management and development of these sectors are vital for the country’s prosperity and self-reliance.
Apart from agriculture, Indonesia also has substantial mineral resources that can contribute to its economic development. President Jokowi highlighted the importance of downstream processing of resources to achieve economic prosperity. The country’s vast seas offer potential for marine aquaculture production that can support the protein needs of the population.
Currently, Indonesia’s protein consumption is estimated at 62 grams per capita per day, totaling 6.3 million tons of protein per year for the population. The country’s fisheries have the capacity to meet this demand, further highlighting the potential for sustainable growth in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
