MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Chairperson of Muhammadiyah Agung Danarto outlined seven urgent food-related issues that Indonesia needs to address. The first is climate change, which causes unpredictable weather and disrupts farming schedules.
The second issue is the freshwater crisis. During dry seasons, water becomes scarce, even though more than 70 percent of the world’s freshwater is used for agriculture. Agung encouraged Indonesia to learn from countries that have successfully used drip irrigation technology, which helps conserve water. Although Indonesia is a tropical country, he warned that water shortages could become a serious issue in the near future.
The third challenge is Indonesia’s heavy reliance on food imports. This dependence makes the country vulnerable. To address this, Agung called for a return to food diversification, suggesting that rice should not be the only staple food. Other options should be promoted as daily alternatives.
The fourth issue is the need for a technological breakthrough in agriculture. Most farmers in Indonesia still use basic tools and traditional methods. Agung said adopting modern agricultural technology can improve productivity and also make farming more attractive to young people.
The fifth issue is soil degradation and pollution. Agung explained that while chemical fertilizers initially increased crop yields, long-term use has led to toxic buildup in the soil, reducing its fertility.
“At first, chemical fertilizers increased productivity. However, after years of use, they poisoned the land, and yields dropped,” said Agung in the kick off of the First National Jamboree of Muhammadiyah Farmer Association (Jamnas I JATAM) at the Muhammadiyah headquarters, Yogyakarta on Thursday, May 22.
The sixth concern is urbanization and the younger generation’s declining interest in farming. Many people are moving from villages to cities, leaving fewer young workers in agriculture. Today, most Indonesian farmers are from older generations, such as Gen X and Baby Boomers.
The final issue is geopolitical conflict and the fragility of global supply chains. Agung warned that wars in the Middle East and trade tensions between major powers such as the United States and China could affect food supplies around the world, including in Indonesia.
Agung called on Muhammadiyah, the Muhammadiyah Council for Community Empowerment, and all relevant stakeholders to take these issues seriously and work toward strengthening Indonesia’s food security. He emphasized that building food sovereignty is not just about survival, but also about ensuring a sustainable future for the country and humanity as a whole.
