Rice Swasembada is Not Just a Ceremony, Seeing Karawang Raya Harvest Managed by the Government

JAKARTA - The momentum of the national food revival was reiterated in Karawang land. The rice harvest which took place in Cilebar District, Karawang Regency, West Java, is proof that the rice self-sufficiency policy under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto is beginning to bear real results in the field.

This activity is not only a routine agenda for farmers, but also a milestone in announcing the achievement of national rice self-sufficiency, which is driven by the strengthening of strategic food production throughout 2025 to early 2026.

Professor of Agricultural Economics at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Prof. Achmad Tjachja Nugraha, assessed that this harvest has a strong legitimacy value. According to him, the selection of Karawang as the location for the announcement was very appropriate because of its status as a national rice barn.

"This harvest is not just a ceremonial agenda, but a reflection of real production achievements. This reflects that President Prabowo's policy is based on real production in the field," said Prof. Achmad in his statement, Wednesday (7/1).

The government's optimism is not without reason. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the graph of national rice and rice production shows a consistent positive trend throughout 2025:

May 2025: 0.98 million hectares of harvest area produces 2.87 million tons of rice.

June 2025: 0.79 million hectares of harvested area produces 2.28 million tons of rice.

Cumulative 2025: National rice production is estimated to reach 34.71 million tons, a significant increase compared to the previous year.

This trend continues until early 2026. BPS projections show the potential production of rice from December 2025 to February 2026 reaching 10.81 million tons of milled dry paddy (GKG), driven by an increase in productivity in the 2025-2026 growing season.

Prof. Achmad explained that this success is the fruit of an integrated policy that touches the root of agricultural problems. Under the direction of President Prabowo, the government's focus includes:

Massive improvement of irrigation systems.

Agricultural mechanization for production efficiency.

Utilization of appropriate technology.

Strengthening the role of farmers as the main subject of food security.

"The policy that places food, especially rice, as a strategic sector of the country is right. When food is strong, national economic and social stability are also maintained," he said.

Foundation Towards Sustainable Food Sovereignty Although the final data for annual production in 2026 is still awaiting official release from BPS after all the harvest cycles are over, initial indicators show that Indonesia is on the right track.

This rice harvest in Karawang is a strong symbol that Indonesia is able to stand on its own feet in meeting its basic food needs. This self-sufficiency achievement is expected not only to be a momentary achievement, but to become the foundation of sustainable food sovereignty in the future.

"This is an important capital to maintain rice self-sufficiency sustainably. Indonesia is able to stand on its own strength," concluded Prof. Achmad.