Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, expressed optimism that Indonesia's food sector performance will become stronger in 2026 as the country achieves food self-sufficiency in 2025."We have already achieved self-sufficiency this year. Next year, I believe things will be even better," he said in Jakarta on Thursday.
The food sector is a primary focus for the Indonesian government to maintain national resilience while improving public welfare. He further stated that another priority program under the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry of Food is the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. He is optimistic that the program will reach its target of 82.9 million beneficiaries by March next year.
Additionally, the government is encouraging the strengthening of village economies through the development of the Red and White Village Cooperatives. Hasan stated that the government aims to establish up to 50,000 village cooperatives throughout 2026.
The minister previously emphasized that the food self-sufficiency program would significantly boost the local economy, noting that the program can improve the welfare of the community, especially farmers and fishers.
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He explained that food self-sufficiency has a wide scope, covering staple commodities such as corn and rice, as well as protein sources like fish and livestock products. He assessed that if the program is implemented successfully, it will lift underprivileged communities toward a better quality of life.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman earlier stated that Indonesia is ready to declare food self-sufficiency in rice and corn on December 31, 2025, in line with the national target.
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Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono stated that Indonesia will focus on achieving self-sufficiency in sugar, eggs, and chicken meat in 2026 after achieving self-sufficiency in rice and corn in 2025.
