The New Food Law

Pirhot Nababan

OVERVIEW

For some time, Indonesia has managed its food security program by adopting the food availability approach, which applies a twin strategy of price stability and self-sufficiency. As a country with a vast diversity of plants and animals, the self-sufficiency strategy should not be a problem. However, the facts show otherwise. Even though Indonesia claims that it is an agriculture-based country (Negara agraris), it still relies significantly on importation of goods.

Indonesia spends IDR 110 trillion on food importation. This number covers about 10 percent of the 2011-2012 State Budget.[1] This is the reason why some say that the “time bomb” is ticking for Indonesia’s food security and that if rice imports are not reduced, public will begin to fear the outcome.