In a recent exchange with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, presidential candidate number 2, Prabowo Subianto, revealed that the food estate program is a key component of his strategy to enhance the country’s food security.
For Prabowo, the concept of a food estate represents a shrewd approach to tackling the persistent challenges in the realm of food and agriculture. “I’ve been championing this idea for years. It’s been my firm belief that we need a large food estate,” expressed Prabowo during the discussion.
He went on to expound that the notion of establishing a food estate is inspired by the concept of a food barn, put forward by Ibnu Sutowo back in the 1970s. The Minister of Defence is convinced that the food estate is the most effective way to ensure food security, particularly in light of the fact that many traders opt to purchase rice from Vietnam, driven by their neoliberal stance on affordability. Prabowo highlighted, “Neoliberal proponents argue, ‘Why go through the trouble of buying rice from Indonesian farmers when it’s cheaper to acquire it from Vietnamese farmers?’ But what will happen when they no longer want to sell to us? What will we eat then?”
Additionally, Prabowo underscored the significance of improving the welfare of farmers in order to entice the younger generation into agriculture. He invoked the example of successful young farmers in Germany to drive home his point.
Simultaneously, he expressed concern that the dearth of young farmers in Indonesia can be attributed to the hardships faced by the preceding generation of farmers. To remedy this, he emphasized the necessity of equitably managing fertilizers to ensure that farmers receive fair recompense for their toil.
Moreover, he emphasized the crucial need to ensure that subsidized fertilizers reach the farmers directly and are not exploited by middlemen. “Fertilizer management should be geared towards safeguarding the interests of the farmers. Fertilizers should not be excessively intermediated and should not be allowed for resale. These subsidized fertilizers are meant for the people, as well as seeds and other essential resources,” he articulated.
Earlier on, the food estate program had come under fire from the first presidential candidate, Anies Baswedan, who contended that the project solely benefits a select few and fails to yield any tangible outcomes.
In response to Anies’ critique, Prabowo remains steadfast in his conviction that a well-administered food estate program is pivotal for Indonesia’s future food security. “We need to adopt a broader perspective and prioritize the well-being of our farmers in order to surmount the challenges confronting us,” he concluded.
The food estate program proposed by Prabowo has the potential to revolutionize Indonesia’s agricultural sector. If implemented effectively, it could not only bolster food security but also create a flourishing environment for farmers, particularly the younger generation. Let’s remain hopeful that these endeavours culminate in positive transformation for the nation’s agricultural landscape.
