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In 2022, Indonesia's food security index score stood at 60.2 out of 100, ranking 63rd out of 113 countries. This indicated an increase from the previous year, but was a lower score compared to 2020. Several indicators, such as food availability, affordability, quality, and safety, contribute to measuring the level of food security in a country. 

Food estate program in Indonesia

In 2024, the Indonesian government allocated over 114 trillion Indonesian rupiah as a budget for food security. The significant budget increase aims to enhance food availability, accessibility, and price stability, focusing particularly on the food estate program. President Joko Widodo launched this initiative to develop vast agricultural lands, primarily for rice production, in response to global food crises. Thousands of hectares of land areas have been proposed for the program development. However, concerns have recently emerged as some proposed areas have unclear locations and overlap with protected peatlands or existing forestry concessions.

The role of rice in Indonesia’s food security

As a staple for most Indonesians, rice is crucial in ensuring the country’s food security. However, despite being one of the world’s largest rice producers, Indonesia still depends heavily on imports to meet domestic demand, ranking as the third-largest rice importer globally. Due to a drop in rice supply, rice prices increased significantly in 2023, resulting in the highest inflation rate among other consumer commodities in the country. The food estate program is expected to contribute to achieving rice self-sufficiency and price stability in the long term.