YOGYAKARTA – The Muhammadiyah organization recently highlighted the significance of food sovereignty during the Sinau Bareng Kiai Kanjeng event at the Sportorium of the University of Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) on the evening of February 25. This collaborative event, organized by the Institute for Public Wisdom and Studies (LHKP), the Community Empowerment Assembly (MPM) of Muhammadiyah, and UMY, aimed to raise public awareness about the importance of food security and self-sufficiency.
Dr. Busyro Muqoddas, the General Chair of Muhammadiyah, emphasized the organization's long-standing ideology of supporting the vulnerable and marginalized groups since its founding 112 years ago. “Since 112 years ago, Muhammadiyah has had an ideology of siding with orphans, the poor, and the marginalized. Kyai Ahmad Dahlan studied Al Ma'un not only textually but also practically, by assisting orphans and the needy around the Kauman area of Yogyakarta, which later expanded significantly,” he articulated.
This discussion session served as both a reminder and manifestation of love for the nation. The aspirations of Indonesia, embedded by its founders and clearly outlined in the constitution, mandate every citizen’s right to food—indicating how land and water must be utilized for the collective benefit. If these principles are disregarded, the public has the right to oppose such injustices. Food security must be stable, accessible, and of quality to sustain Indonesia’s vast population, alluding to the aspirations enshrined within both the theology of Al Ma'un and the national ideals.
Meanwhile, UMY Rector Achmad Nurmandi underscored the importance of this collaboration, noting how food security interconnects with many other pivotal sectors. “This event is significant because food security relates to the politics, ideology of the state, food governance, and trade, implicatively intertwined with various political interests. Hopefully, this event illuminates us all,” he said.
Thematic discussions titled “Food Sovereignty for Humanity” gathered key figures including Salmah Orbayinah, Chairperson of ‘Aisyiyah, Ridho Al-Hamdi, Chair of LHKP PP Muhammadiyah, and experts from various fields to address the urgency of food sovereignty.
Dr. M. Nurul Yamin, Chair of the MPM PP Muhammadiyah, articulated the pressing issues tied to food sovereignty, stating, “Food should be affordable, stable, easily accessible, and of quality—these four pillars everyone has the right to.” He portrayed Indonesia’s struggles with food insecurity as not merely economic but deeply social, referencing the community's challenges through verses of the Qur’an, especially Surah Al-Ma'un, which discusses socioeconomic disparities.
Dr. Yamin pointed out the injustice caused by uneven food distribution, leading to control of food supplies by only a handful of individuals or groups. This, he insisted, is where Surah Al-Ma’un vehemently opposes injustice and inequality among people.
This notion of food sovereignty extends beyond individual and national rights; it reflects on how Muslims should perceive food issues as foundational problems directly linked to poverty within Indonesia.
Supporting this perspective, Rector Nurmandi discussed how food issues are fundamentally intertwined with politics. “Food is not just about agriculture and fisheries; it’s also inherently political. People often question why we still import cows when regions like NTB have sufficient supply,” he remarked. Such reflections highlight the political interventions affecting food security and ripple through economic interests.
Dr. phil. Ridho Al-Hamdi contributed to the dialogue through creative expression, incorporating poetry titled “Your Democracy’s Heart,” illustrating Indonesia as envisioned as paradise yet stark against the reality of economic turmoil, particularly surrounding food. He voiced disappointment over the perceived indifference from those in power toward constructive criticisms voiced by scholars and citizens alike, stating, “A constructive criticism from the grassroots isn’t heard by those at the parliament and the presidential palace, even when the reality shows unemployment and the struggles of farmers and fishermen persist.”
The Sinau Bareng Kiai Kanjeng event, realized through collaboration between UMY, the Law and Human Rights Assembly, and the LHKP of Muhammadiyah, gathered influential voices including Dr. H.M. Busyro Muqoddas, Dr. Salmah Orbayinah, legal scholar Feri Amsari, senior members from Muhammadiyah, and environmental activist Kholid Miqtar to share their insights on food sovereignty.
Overall, the discussions clearly underscored the collective desire for change, emphasizing the need for reform within Indonesia’s food systems, asserting it as not just moral but also ethical, advocating for justice and quality of life for the citizens. Initiatives like this discussion illuminate the roadmap toward achieving sustainable food sovereignty, echoing the collective aspirations written within Indonesia's core values.