On August 30, 2025, a sweeping initiative aimed at securing Indonesia’s food supply and stabilizing prices took center stage across the archipelago. The Gerakan Pangan Murah, or Cheap Food Movement, launched by the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Trade, marks a bold response to mounting challenges in the agricultural sector—especially those surrounding rice, the country’s staple food.
The campaign, conducted virtually and simultaneously in 4,663 subdistricts, represents one of the largest coordinated food security efforts in recent Indonesian history. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the movement is expected to reach a staggering 3.4 million visitors, with an estimated 43,000 tons of rice earmarked under the Stabilitas Pasokan dan Harga Pangan (SPHP) program. The numbers are impressive, but the stakes are even higher, as the country faces the dual pressures of a prolonged dry season and the ever-present need to keep food both available and affordable.
Before the official rollout, government officials were dispatched to traditional markets in Serang and Kendari. Their mission: to ensure that SPHP rice was being distributed according to the established standards. This hands-on approach, as reported by Kabar Bangka, underscores the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability at every stage of the supply chain.
At the heart of the initiative lies a deep-seated commitment from the highest levels of government. The Minister of Agriculture, speaking during the launch, emphasized that the administration’s dedication to food availability has never wavered. Drawing on the President’s own words, the Minister reminded the nation, “President Republik Indonesia is deeply concerned about the food sector, especially rice, which is a vital commodity for Indonesian society. According to the President, independence is not just about freedom from colonization but also about the country’s ability to feed its people, which can be called food self-sufficiency.”
Despite the optimism, the government is not blind to the obstacles ahead. The ongoing dry, hot season poses a real threat to harvest yields in several regions. Yet, the Ministry remains confident. Domestic rice production, officials say, is still robust. In fact, the state logistics agency, Bulog, has already absorbed 4 million tons of rice stockpiles—without resorting to imports. This is a crucial point, as it signals Indonesia’s ongoing push for self-sufficiency in its most important food crop.
To further cushion against potential shortages, the government has announced plans to release an additional 1.3 million tons of rice reserves gradually, stretching through to the end of December 2025. The goal is clear: to guarantee a steady supply and prevent any price spikes that could hit the most vulnerable households hardest.
Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, echoing the sentiments of his colleagues, offered full-throated support for the movement. “The involvement of various parties, from the Central to Regional Governments, Bulog, the National Food Agency, and even other ranks, will greatly help in realizing food stability throughout Indonesia,” he stated, as reported by Kabar Bangka. This spirit of collaboration is at the core of the Gerakan Pangan Murah, which seeks to unite not just ministries but also local governments and state agencies in a common cause.
One of the program’s defining features is its focus on distribution. By targeting both traditional and modern markets, the movement aims to ensure that food—especially rice—remains within reach for ordinary Indonesians. “Local governments have a very vital role in ensuring that every step of the Gerakan Pangan Murah can be carried out well,” Tito Karnavian explained. This decentralized approach is designed to adapt to the varied conditions across Indonesia’s vast and diverse regions.
Of course, no nationwide rollout is without its hiccups. Technical challenges, such as patchy internet connectivity in some areas, have been acknowledged by organizers. But officials remain undeterred. “We ensure that although there are some technical obstacles in the field, such as internet connection problems in some areas, this movement will continue to run gradually and evenly throughout Indonesia,” Tito Karnavian assured.
While the Gerakan Pangan Murah addresses the supply and affordability of food, another, more localized challenge persists: the distribution of agricultural tools and machinery, known as Alsintan. In Nunukan Regency, a border region, the Head of Food Security and Agriculture Service, Muhtar, highlighted ongoing hurdles in getting these vital resources directly to farmer groups. According to KBRN Nunukan, the central government’s responsibility ends at the handover point—typically the local agricultural office. From there, it falls to regional governments to fund and manage the final leg of distribution.
“We must help with transportation costs from the provincial APBD or the district/city APBD. The assistance is only delivered to our office at the Food Security and Agriculture Service, then for further distribution to the area it uses the APBD,” Muhtar explained. This reliance on local budgets (APBD) for last-mile delivery is a double-edged sword: while it empowers local authorities, it also exposes the process to funding shortfalls and bureaucratic delays.
The government of Nunukan Regency, for its part, is hoping for continued support from both provincial and district budgets to keep the distribution of Alsintan running smoothly. The stakes are particularly high in border areas, where agricultural productivity can be a lifeline for local communities. Without sufficient funding, the risk is that essential tools and machines could sit idle at administrative offices, never reaching the farmers who need them most.
These twin stories—of a nationwide movement to secure food and of local struggles to equip farmers—are two sides of the same coin. Both highlight the complexities of agricultural policy in a country as sprawling and diverse as Indonesia. They also reveal the layers of coordination required: from the President’s office to central ministries, down to provincial and district governments, and finally to the farmers and consumers at the grassroots.
What unites these efforts is a shared recognition that food security is about more than just numbers and logistics. It’s about dignity, sovereignty, and the daily realities of millions of Indonesians. The Gerakan Pangan Murah, with its ambitious scale and collaborative spirit, offers a glimpse of what’s possible when government agencies, local authorities, and communities pull together. Meanwhile, the challenges faced by regions like Nunukan serve as a reminder that policy must always be grounded in the practicalities of implementation.
As Indonesia navigates the uncertainties of climate and market pressures, these initiatives stand as testaments to the country’s resolve. With continued commitment and coordination, the promise of affordable, accessible food—and the means to produce it—remains within reach for all.