Indonesia commits US$2.5 billion to agriculture and food security

The Indonesian government has pledged to step up efforts to safeguard national food security by significantly boosting investment in agriculture, reports VNA, a partner of TV BRICS.

Jakarta has announced that the Ministry of Agriculture’s budget ceiling for 2026 will rise to nearly US$2.5 billion, underlining the importance placed on strengthening the sector amid global uncertainty. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman told lawmakers that the funding will cover salaries, operational needs and, most substantially, development programmes.

Much of the money will be directed towards irrigation and land rehabilitation, with the Directorate General of Land and Water Resources earmarked to receive the largest allocation of around US$970 million. 

By expanding investment in agricultural infrastructure and technology, the government hopes to reduce dependence on imports while ensuring reliable domestic food supplies. Sulaiman has argued that enhancing self-sufficiency is crucial to shielding the nation from volatile international markets.

To that end, the ministry has unveiled four flagship programmes for 2026. They include initiatives to secure the production and distribution of staple crops such as rice, maize and soybeans; and efforts to boost competitiveness and exports through processing and value-added activities.

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