Cimahi, West Java— Analysis of
the Impact of Food Estate Development on Food Sovereignty and Food Security
Challenges in Indonesia. This research was conducted by Nurma Sapriana, Herlina
Saragih, and Edhita Praditya from the Defense University of the Republic of
Indonesia in a scientific article published in the East Asian Journal of
Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR) in 2026.
Research conducted by Nurma
Sapriana, Herlina Saragih, and Edhita Praditya revealed that large-scale food
estate programs in Indonesia are indeed able to increase agricultural
production in some regions, but an overly production-oriented approach often
leads to agrarian conflicts, environmental pressures, and weakens the food
sovereignty of local communities.
Food
security and food sovereignty often clash
In this study,
researchers highlight the fundamental differences between the concepts of food
security and food sovereignty. Food security focuses on the availability and
access to adequate quantities of food, while food sovereignty emphasizes the
right of communities to determine their own food systems according to local
culture and conditions.
Indonesia's
food estate program is considered to emphasize increasing national production
as a quick solution to the threat of a global food crisis. However, this
approach often ignores social factors such as community participation,
customary land rights, and traditional agricultural practices that have
historically underpinned local sustainability.
Positive
results: production increased in some locations
Despite the
criticism, the study found a number of positive achievements from the food
estate program. In some areas, this project is able to increase agricultural
productivity and production efficiency.
Some of the key
findings include:
- Rice production in Kapuas, Central Kalimantan,
reached around 4.58 tons per hectare.
- Shallot production in Temanggung has increased
significantly to around 15.7 tons per hectare.
- Agricultural infrastructure, cultivation technology,
and farmer skills have improved in several implementation sites.
The findings
show that food estates have the potential to succeed when adjusted to land
conditions, the right technology, and good management support.
Land
conflicts and social changes in society
Behind the
increase in production, the research highlights a fairly serious social impact.
Many food estate projects use a top-down approach, where decisions are taken
centrally without adequate consultation with affected communities.
Some of the
social impacts found include:
- Agrarian conflicts due to overlapping land with
customary territories.
- Reduced public access to natural resources such as
forests and water.
- The change in the role of traditional farmers to
agribusiness workers in the monoculture system.
In a number of
cases, indigenous communities have lost access to traditional food sources such
as sago, forest products, or hunting practices, which were previously an
important part of their cultural identity and economic resilience.
Environmental
risks: deforestation to carbon emissions
The research
also highlights ecological impact as one of the main challenges of food estate
programs. Land clearing in sensitive ecosystems such as peatlands and natural
forests increases the risk of environmental damage.
Some of the
environmental impacts noted include:
- Deforestation and biodiversity loss.
- Increased carbon emissions due to peatland
conversion.
- Soil degradation and changes in water systems that
have the potential to trigger floods or droughts.
According to
researchers, focusing on large-scale production without an ecological approach
can create long-term problems that actually weaken food security itself.
Community
participation is the key to success
Sapriana and
his team believe that the success of food estates does not only depend on land
area or technology, but also on inclusive governance. The lack of application
of the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) from the beginning
of the project is one of the sources of conflict.
This research
emphasizes that the integration between national food security and local food
sovereignty must be a priority. Community-based approaches, strengthening
farmer cooperatives, and agroecological practices are considered to be able to
create a more equitable and sustainable food system.
Implications
for national policy and development
The results of
this study provide an important message for governments and policy makers.
Large-scale agricultural development strategies need to be balanced with the
protection of local people's rights and environmental sustainability.
Some of the
strategic recommendations proposed by the researchers include:
1.
Strengthening legal protection of customary land
rights and smallholders.
2.
Sustainable agriculture development and crop diversification.
3.
Active involvement of local communities in
planning and decision-making.
4.
The transition from a mere production model to
an ecological and community-based food system.
This approach is believed to create a more stable national food security while strengthening local food sovereignty.
Author
profile
Nurma Sapriana –University of the
Republic of Indonesia
Herlina Saragih University of the
Republic of Indonesia
Edhita Praditya –University of the
Republic of Indonesia
Research
source
Sapriana, N., Saragih,
H., & Praditya, E. (2026). Analysing Food Estate Development's Impact on
Indonesia's Food Sovereignty and Security Challenges.
East Asian
Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR), Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 551–570.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i2.18
Official URL : https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr
0 Komentar