The Indonesian government is taking significant steps to ensure food self-sufficiency and establish the country as a global food hub. The Ministry of Agriculture and Manpower are working together to bring innovative farming practices to life, focusing on digital tools to increase productivity and create a more sustainable food system.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman shared the vision for this transformation.
"We are seeking to build modern agriculture, modern agriculture clusters to achieve food self-sufficiency and to become the world's food hub," he said.
The plan includes developing 3 million hectares of paddy fields and optimizing land use to maximize agricultural output.
Harnessing Technology for Smarter Farming
Artificial intelligence is playing a key role in this effort. By analyzing soil conditions, AI helps farmers determine the best crops to plant and the ideal locations for planting. This boosts yields and reduces waste, making farming more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Another important innovation is the use of blockchain technology to improve transparency in the food supply chain. This ensures that consumers can trust the origin and quality of their food while also helping to eliminate inefficiencies and fraud. Farmers and businesses benefit from a more reliable and traceable system.
Automation is also transforming the way food is grown. Automated greenhouses allow year-round production, overcoming seasonal limitations and ensuring a steady supply of fresh produce. This technology is particularly valuable in regions with challenging climates, helping to stabilize food availability.
Empowering Farmers Through Collaboration
The Ministry of Manpower is a crucial partner in this initiative, providing skilled instructors and mechanics to support farmers in adopting these modern practices. Hundreds of instructors are deployed to five priority provinces: South Papua, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, and South Sumatra. These regions will serve as hubs for the new agricultural model.
Minister Sulaiman emphasized the importance of engaging young farmers in this transformation. Over 27,000 millennial farmers have already signed up for the program, which introduces them to the latest farming technologies. To support their efforts, the Ministry of Agriculture has distributed thousands of pieces of modern farming equipment, with plans to provide even more in the coming months.
This initiative is not just about improving agriculture—it's also about creating opportunities. The program is expected to generate new jobs in rural areas by introducing modern farming techniques. Higher incomes for farmers will help lower poverty rates and stimulate economic growth in villages, contributing to the nation's overall development.
Join the future of agriculture at GrowTech Jakarta 2025—discover cutting-edge innovations and be part of Indonesia’s journey toward sustainable farming.