President Prabowo Hails Farmers, Fishermen as 'True Heroes,' Emphasizes Food Security Contributions

President Prabowo Subianto on Friday, July 17, expressed his happiness and pride in Indonesian farmers and fishermen, calling them the "real heroes" for their contributions to the nation's food supply. "Today I am happy. I am proud to be the President of the Republic of Indonesia. I am proud of Indonesian farmers!," Prabowo stated, emphasizing that farmers and fishermen produce basic necessities for the community. "Thank you Indonesian farmers, fishermen! You! You are the real heroes! You produce food for all of us!," he added. The President, accompanied by the TNI Commander and the 3 Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, also expressed pride in the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) for their role in strengthening national food security and providing assistance to farmers and fishermen nationwide. "I am proud of farmers! I am proud of the TNI! I am proud of the National Police!" Prabowo declared. He congratulated the implementation of the Integrated TNI Harvest, conducted simultaneously at 43 points across Indonesia, stating that it demonstrates food security efforts as a national movement involving all components of the nation. Prabowo highlighted the TNI's involvement in supporting the food sector as a tangible form of service to the people, underscoring that the TNI and National Police are not just guardians of defense and security but an inseparable part of the Indonesian people. Meanwhile, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto stated that the TNI's involvement in the national food security program is proof of its commitment to strengthening food independence. He explained that the TNI branches are assigned specific roles: the Air Force assists in sugarcane development, the Navy focuses on soybeans, and the Army supports rice production. Through these divisions of tasks, the TNI aids farmers in various regions, contributing significantly to national production targets and reducing import dependency. In the sugarcane sector, the Air Force, in collaboration with Sinergi Gula Nusantara (SGN) and farmer associations, is supporting cultivation over 236,048 hectares, with a potential production of 18.386 million tons of sugarcane, equivalent to 1.36 million tons of sugar. This is projected to contribute 45.05 percent to the national sugar production target in 2026. Specifically at the Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base, where President Prabowo attended the harvest, 800.5 hectares are ready for harvest, estimated to yield 72,045 tons of sugarcane. In the soybean sector, the Navy has assisted cultivation on 2,432 hectares across six regions, producing 3,676 tons, contributing about 0.35 percent to the national target. The Navy has also opened an additional 3,110 hectares for cultivation in seven areas by June 2026, with an estimated production of 5,287 tons. For rice, the Army assisted in harvesting 479,610 hectares in July 2026. Cumulatively from January to June 2026, the Army's assisted harvest area reached 6.26 million hectares, producing approximately 19.2 million tons of rice, supporting 55.24 percent of the national rice production target for 2026.