Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto announced that Indonesia had officially achieved food self-sufficiency, particularly in rice, by 2025 at a harvest event in Karawang District, West Java, on Wednesday.
"Today, I announce that we have achieved food self-sufficiency by 2025 for the entire country. Thank you," he said.
Following the speech, the president greeted each of the farmer representatives who took the stage, before leaving the harvest area.
In his remarks at the event, Prabowo expressed his pride and joy at the achievement of self-sufficiency.
The head of state then expressed his appreciation to farmers, extension workers, and the broader agricultural community for their dedication.
"Thank you, entire agricultural community in Indonesia. You worked hard and you produced and you gave it to the country. We are now self-sufficient. In one year, we have stood on our own two feet, in one year, we are no longer dependent on other nations," he remarked.
Prabowo contrasted the farmers’ achievements with what he described as criticism and mockery from some elites.
"What's important, our farmers have provided concrete evidence. You have, in my opinion, marked an important milestone in the independence of the Indonesian nation," he continued.
The president then recounted how several months ago, important figures doubted Indonesia's ability to achieve food self-sufficiency, along with the performance of Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.
"They told me, it is impossible to achieve food self-sufficiency. They also said that I must be careful with Minister Sulaiman, sometimes he makes too many promises. But today, I am awarding the Bintang Jasa Utama (Star of Main Services) to Minister Sulaiman for his work of securing the future of the Indonesian nation, and I believe that from now on, we will be unstoppable," Prabowo said while praising Sulaiman.
