Building Food Security Through Farmers' Protection And Welfare

Farmers in West Java (doc. Mcdonalds Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Farmers' welfare is an important element in maintaining food security and the sustainability of the agricultural sector. In various corners of Indonesia, farmers work tirelessly to ensure food supplies remain available.

However, the challenges they face are not small, ranging from access to social protection to proper work safety guarantees.

In the midst of this challenge, efforts to increase protection for farmers are getting more attention. One of the steps that have begun to be implemented is the provision of social security facilities which include protection for work accidents and death insurance, as has been done by McDonalds Indonesia since 2023 and provides benefits for hundreds of farmers in the West Java region.

"We consistently empower economic sustainability by partnering with domestic suppliers. Currently, about 75 percent of the raw materials used we source from local supplier partners, including chicken meat, vegetables, eggs, rice, chilies, and cooking oil," explained Ronni Rombe, Supply Chain & Quality Assurance Director of PT Rekso Nasional Food in his statement.

In the second year of its implementation, 68 farmers from Garut and Cianjur received social security cards at an event that took place in Sirnagalih, Cisurupan, Garut Regency, on February 26, 2025. This program is expected to provide a sense of security and calm for farmers in carrying out their daily activities.

Thus, the welfare of farmers not only has an impact on their own lives, but also on the sustainability of food supply for the wider community.

For farmers, this social protection not only provides financial guarantees in emergency situations but also increases confidence in running their business.

Titin Martinah, an agricultural business actor in Garut, revealed that her participation in this program makes her feel more valued.

"We work in a risk-packed sector, and now we feel more protected," he said.

In addition to social protection, various other initiatives are also carried out to improve the welfare of farmers, such as training on sustainable agricultural practices, micro-testing of land and water, as well as the implementation of global food safety standards.

These steps aim to ensure that the resulting agricultural products meet high quality and safety standards, as well as pay attention to environmental sustainability.

Thanks to these initiatives, more and more parties recognize the importance of providing protection for farmers. One form of appreciation for these efforts is the "Plenary Protection for Employees and Partners" award given by BPJS Ketenagakerjaan in 2024.

M. Izadin, Head of the Jakarta Employment BPJS Branch, Cilandak, expressed his hope that this program could inspire more parties to participate in supporting the welfare of farmers.

Through various concrete steps, this program is expected to continue and have a sustainable positive impact on the farmer community. The sustainability of the agricultural sector depends not only on technology or policies, but also on how the welfare of farmers is properly cared for and maintained.