Strengthening National Development Planning in the Food Sector Can Increase National Independence

 

1. Introduction

a. General

National Development is the effort of the entire Indonesian nation to pursue the National Ideals and National Goals, as mandated in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution (UUD 1945). Therefore, National Development is essentially development by, from, and for the people, the implementation of which covers all aspects of national life evenly throughout the country. National Development essentially transforms potential into capability. The potential possessed by the Indonesian nation in the form of geography, demography, and natural resources is the basic capital for development that must be utilized for the greatest benefit of the people.[1]

In the 2005-2025 RPJPN, one of the directions for achieving the main targets of economic development in the next 20 years is that food independence can be maintained at a safe level and in adequate nutritional quality and the availability of food security instruments for the household level. The food security system is built to the ability to maintain national food independence by developing food security institutions that are able to guarantee the fulfillment of food needs at the household level that are sufficient, both in quantity and quality and nutrition, safe, equitable, and affordable, supported by diverse food sources according to local diversity.

Food is a basic necessity for human survival and is also the most fundamental requirement for the integrity of a nation. Food security for a nation is a key pillar of its integration and independence from the grip of colonial rule. Dependence on food makes it difficult for a nation to escape the clutches of colonial rule. Therefore, efforts to achieve independence in meeting national food needs should not be viewed solely from the perspective of economic profit and loss, but must be recognized as a fundamental component of national food independence.

Food security is the condition of ensuring adequate food for households, reflected in the availability of sufficient food, both in quantity and quality, that is safe, equitable, and affordable. Developing food security has a fundamental development perspective, as access to nutritious food for all Indonesians is a fundamental human right. Success in developing human resource quality is largely determined by the achievement of adequate food and nutritional intake. Food security is the foundation or main pillar in realizing sustainable economic and national resilience.[2]

Food security is an integrated system consisting of various subsystems. The main subsystems are food availability, food distribution, and food consumption. The realization of food security is the synergy of the interaction of these three subsystems.

The food availability subsystem encompasses aspects of production, reserves, and the balance between food imports and exports. Food availability must be managed in such a way that, although food production is seasonal, limited, and dispersed across regions, the volume of food available to the public is sufficient in quantity and variety, and its supply is stable over time.

The food distribution subsystem encompasses the physical and economic accessibility of food equitably. The distribution system encompasses not only the physical aspect, meaning food is available in all locations where it is needed, but also the community. A food surplus at the regional level does not guarantee sufficient food for individuals. This distribution system needs to be managed optimally and in accordance with open market mechanisms to achieve efficiency in the process of equalizing food access for the entire population.

The food consumption subsystem involves efforts to increase public knowledge and skills so that they have a good understanding of food, nutrition, and health, allowing them to optimally manage their consumption. Food consumption should ensure adequate and balanced food and nutritional intake, in accordance with the needs for developing healthy, strong, intelligent, and productive individuals.

Within the consumption subsystem, there's another important aspect: diversification. Food diversification is a way to achieve diverse nutritional intake while reducing the community's dependence on a single staple food, namely rice. High dependence can trigger instability if the food supply is disrupted. Conversely, to encourage people to prefer alternative foods, improvements in taste, appearance, and practicality of food processing are needed to compete with existing products. In this regard, food processing technology plays a crucial role.

Developing food security requires harmony between these three subsystems.[3] The development of the food availability subsystem is aimed at managing the stability and sustainability of food availability, which is derived from production, reserves, and imports. The development of the food distribution subsystem aims to ensure food accessibility and stable food prices. The development of the consumption subsystem aims to ensure that every household consumes sufficient, nutritious, and safe food.

 

b. Aims and objectives

The purpose of this essay is to analyze and demonstrate that strengthening national development planning in the food sector can increase national independence. The purpose is to fulfill Lemhannas RI's assignment as a participant in PPRA XLVIII and to contribute ideas to Lemhannas RI or related parties regarding the strengthening of national development planning in the food sector.

 

c. Scope and sequence

The scope of writing this essay is limited to a discussion on strengthening national development planning in the food sector which is related to increasing national independence, with the following sequence:

1. Introduction.  

2. Strengthening national development planning in the food sector.

3. The relationship between strengthening national development planning in the food sector and increasing national independence.

4. Closing.

 

d. Definitions

1) Stabilization. According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary, the word "stabilization" means a process, method, or act of solidifying, strengthening, or making stable.

2)      Planning is a process for determining appropriate future actions, through a sequence of choices, taking into account available resources. (Article 1 paragraph (1), Law No. 25 of 2004 concerning the National Development Planning System). Planning in the National Development Planning System is characterized by the integration of processes from top to bottom (top down) and from bottom to top (bottom up) which is adjusted to Law No. 25 of 2004 concerning the National Development Planning System, Law No. 32 of 2004 concerning Regional Government and Law No. 33 of 2004 concerning Financial Balance between the Central Government and the Regions.

3)      National Development is an effort carried out by all components of the nation in order to achieve the goals of the state. (Article 1 paragraph (2), Law No. 25 of 2004 concerning the National Development Planning System). The National Development Planning System is a unified development planning procedure to produce long-term, medium-term and annual development plans implemented by state and community administrators at the Central and Regional levels (Article 1 paragraph (3), Law No. 25 of 2004 concerning the National Development Planning System).

4)      Food Sector. Food is anything that comes from biological sources and water, whether processed or unprocessed, which is intended as food or drink for human consumption, including food additives, food raw materials, and other materials used in the process of preparing, processing, and/or making food and drink (Article 1 paragraph (1) of Law No. 7 of 1996 concerning Food).

         The National Priorities in the 2010-2014 RPJMN in the Food Sector (Priority 5) are: Increasing food security and continuing agricultural revitalization to achieve food independence, increasing the competitiveness of agricultural products, increasing farmers' income, as well as environmental and natural resource sustainability, increasing GDP growth in the agricultural sector by 3,7% per year and a farmer exchange rate index of 115-120 in 2014.

5)      National Independence. Independence is one of the criteria or practical values ​​which is a reflection of the conceptual principles contained in the concept of National Resilience.

         National independence means believing in one's own abilities and strengths, with tenacity and resilience, embodying the principle of never giving up easily, and relying on national identity, integrity, and character. This independence is a prerequisite for establishing mutually beneficial cooperation in global development.

 

2.             Strengthening National Development Planning in the Field of Food Security

National food security is a strategic issue for Indonesia, given that adequate food production, distribution, and consumption have broad dimensions and are intertwined with social, economic, and political dimensions. Therefore, it is necessary to align increased production (macro-economy) with increased farmer income and welfare (micro-economy), in line with the principle of development from, by, and for farming communities as an empowerment effort.

Strengthening food security is inseparable from addressing food insecurity, as food insecurity is a key cause of food security instability. Food insecurity can be caused by chronic constraints such as limited resources and capabilities, or temporary ones such as natural disasters.

To address this, the government and the public need to develop an alert system capable of early detection of signs of food insecurity in their area and responding quickly and effectively. Prompt and appropriate response is essential to prevent these communities from experiencing more severe insecurity and all its attendant consequences.

The government has established the General Policy on Food Security (KUKP) 2010-2014 which emphasizes that the goal of food security development is to ensure the availability and consumption of sufficient, safe, quality, and nutritionally balanced food at the household, regional, and national levels at all times and evenly through the utilization of local resources and culture, innovative technology and market opportunities, as well as strengthening the rural economy and alleviating poverty. Provincial governments, district/city governments and village governments implement food security policies and are responsible for the implementation of food security in their respective regions by paying attention to the guidelines, norms, standards and criteria that have been set by the central government.

This KUKP is expected to provide a solution to the aforementioned issues, especially considering that Indonesia is both an agricultural and maritime country with abundant natural resource potential. The government must be able to manage and utilize these natural resources. Regional governments, as the administrators of food security in their respective regions, must also be able to develop food security strategies by utilizing their local resources.

Developing a food security system based on local resources is crucial to prevent a region from becoming dependent on food from other regions. However, consideration must be given to specific aspects of the region, commodities, and superior communities. In-depth feasibility studies are crucial as a follow-up to the participatory development and planning of superior commodities. This will ensure more specific recommendations are easily implemented by local governments and investors interested in food crop agribusiness.

Robust food security is built at the household level, relying on the diversity of local resources. In line with the dynamics of food security strengthening, this is implemented by developing food sources, food institutions, and food culture within each region. The advantages of this approach include ensuring locally produced food is suited to local agricultural resources and climate, ensuring its availability on a sustainable basis. With these local capabilities, community food security is less susceptible to problems or fluctuations in food supply occurring outside the region or abroad.

In this context, the empowerment aspect of community food security is crucial. Community empowerment means increasing community independence as a manifestation and development of community capacity based on human resource empowerment so that they can fulfill their rights and obligations according to their status and role in food security development.

However, each region or area has both strengths and limitations in producing food efficiently. Some areas have surpluses and others have deficiencies in producing certain foods. Despite the wide variety of essential plant and animal foods as sources of macro- and micronutrients, no single region is able to meet all the food needs and desires of its population.

Therefore, interaction between regions is absolutely necessary to meet food needs and achieve regional food security. Similarly, interaction between the regional and national levels, within an active and dynamic network, is essential for national food security.

Essentially, strengthening food security can be achieved through the development of agribusiness systems and enterprises in the food sector, particularly for groups experiencing temporary and chronic food insecurity who still have the potential to develop their economic activities. Food agribusiness involves many actors, including small businesses such as farmers, processors, and traders, based on the comparative and competitive advantages of local resources.

To achieve strong resilience, from the household level to the national level, the agribusiness systems and enterprises that are built are competitive, people-oriented, sustainable, and decentralized. Competitiveness is characterized by the level of efficiency, quality, price, and production costs, as well as the ability to penetrate the market, increase market share, and provide professional services. People-oriented is characterized by the development of productive businesses that involve the wider community with business opportunities, employment opportunities, and the enjoyment of added value (income). Sustainability is characterized by the ability to increase the capacity of food resources that are increasingly greater over time, which increasingly prosper the community both economically, socially, and environmentally. Decentralization means that economic activities are determined by the community actors with the conditions of their region based on comparative advantages and the aspirations of the local community.[4]

 

3.             The Relationship between Strengthening National Development Planning in the Food Sector and Increasing National Independence

Food security is a key pillar for becoming a more advanced nation. Food security is also part of fulfilling the most fundamental rights of every citizen, alongside other human rights. In fact, food security is a crucial component of national resilience.

Hunger and food shortages are forms of poverty that have long plagued more than 30 million citizens, despite our independence 67 years ago. This means that, as an independent nation, we are still not free from food problems. The policy of importing rice, sugar, corn, and soybeans for over two decades represents a dismal achievement in food security policy that could threaten the nation's independence.

The success of sugar self-sufficiency in the early years, from pre-independence through the 1970s and rice self-sufficiency in 1984, can serve as examples of success in meeting national food needs. Food security not only means meeting all the population's food needs but also ensures that farmers directly involved in food provision are not the most oppressed or sacrificed. The availability of affordable food must also ensure that farmers involved also have their most basic rights fulfilled, such as education, housing, recreation, and economic access that can ensure the well-being of themselves and their families.

Food resources in every region across this vast country truly offer enormous potential to reduce dependence on imported food, while simultaneously making our country's agricultural future more advanced, resilient, and independent. Thus, Indonesia's achievement in food self-sufficiency will signify that food availability can be guaranteed within the framework of national self-sufficiency.

Two national development planning policies must be synergized to achieve food security at the national level: food self-sufficiency and food sufficiency. Food self-sufficiency is defined as meeting food needs, as far as possible, from domestic supplies while minimizing dependence on food trade. On the other hand, the concept of food sufficiency is very different from food self-sufficiency due to the inclusion of international trade variables.

The concept of food sufficiency requires the ability to maintain domestic production levels, coupled with the ability to import food to meet the population's food needs (sufficiency). The benefits and risks of relying on international trade to ensure food security remain a hot topic of debate among several alternative strategies. The common question is: what will be the future position and what concept will be adopted? Within a free trade framework, both options must be formulated carefully and comprehensively, taking into account all determinants of food production, procurement, and consumption.

National food security is a crucial prerequisite for fostering food security at the household level. National food security has been achieved through food self-sufficiency policies and price stability. In general, the government strives to maintain food stability (especially rice), as indicated by its ability to guarantee a floor price (floor price) and ceiling price (ceiling price) which is determined through food procurement and market operations and at wholesale price levels which are much more stable than rice prices on the international market.

In the future, efforts to strengthen rice self-sufficiency and other self-sufficiency goals will likely need to focus on achieving food security, diversifying food consumption, and ensuring food safety. Adapting the opinions of several experts, several general strategies can be formulated to achieve household food security.

First it is very necessary to adopt development strategies and macroeconomic policies that create growth that is equitable and sustainable (sustainable development).

Secondly, There is an urgent need to accelerate the growth of the agricultural and food sectors and rural development with a focus on the interests of the poor. This means that agriculture (food) must become mainstream in the national economy.

Third, it is time to increase access to land and agricultural resources in a broader sense in a more wise manner, including creating and increasing employment opportunities, income transfers, stabilizing food supplies, improving planning and providing emergency food assistance to the community.

Therefore, strengthening national development planning in the food sector is necessary so that its outputs and outcomes can enhance national independence. Therefore, this planning strengthening aligns with the Main Directions of National Development Policy (2010-2014), which include: firstly,, development (development) is aimed at producing welfare (prosperity), democracy (democracy) and justice (Justice). Secondly,, Basic Policies and Strategies in Development for all (development for all), namely: 1) development must be inclusive; 2) development must have a regional dimension; 3) integrating and uniting the economic potentials that exist in the regions into a single national geo-economic entity; 4) development of local economies; 5) harmony between growth and equality (pro-growth, pro-job, pro-poor); and 6) improving the quality of human resources.

 

4.             Closing Event

Food security is the primary foundation for achieving economic and sustainable national resilience. Food security is the synergy and interaction of the availability, distribution, and consumption subsystems. Achieving food security can be achieved by prioritizing food self-sufficiency policies over food sufficiency. Food sufficiency policies are short-term, so policies to achieve self-sufficiency need to focus on achieving food security, which ultimately enhances national independence.

Indonesia needs to try as hard as possible meet their food needs independently, within a relatively short time (approximately 10 years). This should be a national political decision. Special efforts are required to reach this political decision. Food security must be a government policy decision to break the import chain for almost all our food needs, such as rice, corn, and soybeans.

This means that going forward, the Indonesian nation must have thorough planning and consistent strategic steps to increase food production. Meeting food needs should not be based solely on the difference between import prices and domestic production costs, which may be profitable in the short term but create a bitter dependency in the long term, which in turn threatens national security. Sustainable and consistent efforts are needed to support food self-sufficiency.

Food independence means being able to produce the agricultural/food products we need ourselves, supported by supporting elements (seeds, fertilizers, medicines, etc.) that we can provide ourselves. Furthermore, we are becoming a food exporting nation. Food independence is more than just self-sufficiency, as it will contribute to increasing national self-reliance.

 

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