Attending the TNI Harvest Festival, President Prabowo: I am happy, proud of Indonesian farmers

President Prabowo Subianto. (Photo: Special)

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said he was very happy and proud of farmers and fishermen in Indonesia and called them the real heroes.

"Today I am happy. I am proud to be the President of the Republic of Indonesia. I am proud of Indonesian farmers!," said Prabowo, Friday, July 17.

Prabowo said farmers and fishermen were the real heroes because they had produced basic necessities for the community.

"Thank you Indonesian farmers, fishermen! You! You are the real heroes! You produce food for all of us!," he said.

On this occasion, Prabowo, accompanied by the TNI Commander and the 3 Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, also expressed his pride in the TNI for participating in strengthening national food security and contributing to providing assistance to farmers and fishermen throughout Indonesia.

"I am proud of farmers! I am proud of the TNI! I am proud of the National Police!" Prabowo shouted in his speech.

Prabowo also expressed his appreciation for the implementation of the Integrated TNI Harvest which was carried out simultaneously at 43 points throughout Indonesia.

According to him, this activity reflects that efforts to realize food security are a national movement involving all components of the nation.

"I congratulate the implementation of the integrated TNI Raya Harvest which was carried out simultaneously at 43 points throughout Indonesia. This activity shows that food security is not only the business of the Ministry of Agriculture, but is a national movement involving all the strength of the nation," said the President.

Prabowo said the involvement of the TNI in supporting the food sector was a tangible form of service to the people.

Cross-sector collaboration is key in overcoming various challenges faced by the community while strengthening national food security.

"This shows that the TNI and the National Police are not only the guardians of the country's defense and security, but the TNI and the National Police are an inseparable part of the Indonesian people. The TNI and the National Police are the children of the people. The TNI and the National Police must always be with the people in the midst of the people. The difficulties of the people are the difficulties of the TNI and the National Police," said the President.

Meanwhile, the TNI Commander, General Agus Subiyanto, in his speech said that the TNI's involvement in the national food security program is proof that the TNI is present to strengthen food independence.

"This is part of the synergy of the TNI in supporting the national food security program through the simultaneous harvest of three strategic commodities in various regions of Indonesia, namely sugar cane by the Indonesian Air Force, soybeans by the Indonesian Navy, and rice by the Indonesian Army," he said.

The commander explained that through the division of tasks in the three matras, the TNI assisted farmers in the development of sugarcane, soybean, and rice commodities in various regions.

"The Air Force has the task of accompanying the development of sugarcane commodities, the Navy focuses on soybeans, while the Army is responsible for accompanying rice production," he said.

According to the TNI Commander, the assistance of the Indonesian Air Force was carried out in collaboration with Sinergi Gula Nusantara (SGN), a private company, and the sugar cane farmers' association.

In the 2026 harvest season, assistance was carried out on an area of 236,048 hectares with a production potential of 18.386 million tons of sugar cane.

This amount is estimated to produce around 1.36 million tons of sugar, or contribute 45.05 percent to the national sugar production target in 2026.

"In the sugar cane sector, the Indonesian Air Force together with Sinergi Gula Nusantara, the private sector, and the farmers' association accompany an area of 236,048 hectares with a production potential of 18.386 million tons of sugar cane or equivalent to 1.36 million tons of sugar," said Agus.

Specifically at the Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base, the location of the harvest led directly by President Prabowo Subianto, the area of land ready for harvest reached 800.5 hectares.

From this area, it is estimated that 72,045 tons of sugar cane will be produced, with an average selling price received by the factory of around Rp720 thousand per ton.

Meanwhile, in the soybean sector, the Navy assisted in cultivation on an area of 2,432 hectares with a total production of 3,676 tons spread across six regions.

The production contributes around 0.35 percent to the national soybean production target in 2026.

To increase production, by June 2026 the Indonesian Navy has also opened new land measuring 3,110 hectares in seven areas, both on TNI AL-owned land and on regional land. From this land, it is estimated that around 5,287 tons of soybeans will be produced.

"This effort will strengthen food independence and reduce import dependence," he said.

As for the rice sector, the Army assisted in harvesting an area of 479,610 hectares during July 2026.

Cumulatively, from January to June 2026, the area of harvest accompanied by the TNI AD has reached 6.26 million hectares with a total production of around 19.2 million tons of rice.

This achievement has supported 55.24 percent of the national rice production target in 2026.