Indonesia aims to become world's food basket despite climate challenges

February 22, 2024 - Indonesia Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, expressed optimism at the 'National Dialogue' event at Hasanudin University, stating that Indonesia could emerge as the world's food basket despite global challenges. Minister Amran highlighted the prevailing global food crisis, with approximately one billion people facing hunger worldwide, and 44 countries on the brink of starvation due to various crises, including the impact of El Nino.

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Indonesia itself is grappling with an extreme El Nino climate, leading to a decrease in the project planting area to 800,000 hectares in February 2024 from 1,753,000 hectares in January. Minister Amran acknowledged the concerning situation but remained hopeful, citing President Jokowi's commitment to enhancing agricultural production by increasing fertiliser assistance to IDR 14 trillion in 2024.

Minister Amran outlined plans to transform 10 million hectares of mineral swamp land into productive agricultural areas, spread across regions like South Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. He projected that optimal management could yield significant rice production by 2026, reducing imports, meeting national needs and positioning Indonesia as a potential rice-exporting superpower.

The Ministry of Agriculture's ambitious timeline includes achieving food self-sufficiency by 2025, becoming a rice-exporting country by 2027 and establishing Indonesia as a global food basket by 2028. The minister emphasised four key strategies: pumping for the island of Java, extensification of swamp land outside Indonesia, addressing the fertiliser issue and improving the trading system.

Hasanuddin University's Chancellor, Jamaluddin Jompa, commended Minister Amran's dedication to achieving food self-sufficiency, recognising the crucial role agriculture plays in Indonesia's development. He stressed that food security is vital for the welfare of Indonesian society, encouraging university students to contribute to agricultural development through innovation, science and technology.

As Indonesia faces climate challenges and a global food crisis, Minister Amran's vision aims to not only secure the nation's food supply but also position Indonesia as a key player in addressing global food shortages.

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