A Stark Contrast: Food Banks strain in the US as Indonesia Achieves Record Harvests
A growing food crisis is unfolding in the United States, with food banks across the nation reporting dwindling supplies and a surge in demand. This situation is exacerbated by the recent termination of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation’s largest anti-hunger initiative providing vital food assistance to low-income households. Reports indicate storage shelves are emptying as donations from grocery stores decrease, a outcome of both inflation and evolving tariff policies impacting the trade sector.Individuals previously reliant on aid are now facing limited resources as existing stocks diminish.
The crisis in developed nations stands in sharp contrast to Indonesia’s current agricultural success. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) projects a record rice production of 34.77 million tonnes for January to December 2025 – a 13.54% increase (4.15 million tonnes) compared to the same period in 2024, marking the highest production in a decade. Furthermore, rice reserves held by Bulog, the Indonesian logistics agency, have reached an unprecedented 4.2 million tonnes as of June.
Positive trends extend beyond rice. National corn production is also projected to rise, with an estimated 16.55 million tonnes of dry shelled corn (14% moisture content) anticipated for january to December 2025. This represents a 9.34% increase (1.41 million tonnes) over the previous year.
Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, attributes this success to collaborative efforts between farmers, agricultural extension workers, and all levels of the agricultural sector, operating under unified direction. “Indonesia is not only food secure, but also has a surplus,” stated Amran. “This is the result of the mutual cooperation of farmers and the hard work of all parties who ensure that production continues to increase.”
He highlighted key programs – accelerated simultaneous planting, provision of agricultural tools and machinery (Alsintan), and strengthening superior seed varieties - as crucial foundations for maintaining productivity despite global climate challenges.
This situation underscores the importance of agricultural independence and farmer support in achieving true food security, rather than relying solely on economic strength. While many nations grapple with food shortages, Indonesia is demonstrating resilience with abundant reserves and controlled food inflation.
Amran concluded, “We must be grateful, as at a time when the world was anxious about food, Indonesia actually succeeded. Thanks to President Prabowo’s ideas, now our food production has increased, even had a surplus, then the welfare of farmers has increased and moast importantly the Indonesian peopel have enough food and we can even supply it to other countries.”
(akd/ega)
