President Prabowo Calls Farmers and Fishermen Nation’s Backbone

RRI.CO.ID, Gorontalo - President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that farmers and fishermen are the backbone of Indonesia, noting that their role has been crucial since the struggle for independence.

The President made the remarks while attending the 17th National Farmers and Fishermen Week in Gorontalo on Tuesday, June 24, 2026. More than 100,000 farmers and fishermen from across the country joined the event.

President Prabowo said that from the early days of the Republic, farmers and fishermen supported the nation’s struggle, helping freedom fighters when the government lacked funding. “I am proud because I have fought alongside farmers and fishermen for so long,” he said.

As a former soldier, the President acknowledged his deep understanding of the community’s role in the independence struggle, stressing that their support was a major strength at the time.

“When Indonesia proclaimed independence, the army survived because of the support of farmers and fishermen,” he added.

President Prabowo underlined that farmers and fishermen remain at the forefront of national food security, and the government will continue to support them. He said that achieving food self-sufficiency is the result of their hard work, and the government is committed to sustaining it.

“This is our collective achievement. It is the result of your hard work,” he said.

The President stressed that food self-sufficiency must be maintained through intensification, extensification, and downstreaming. He is optimistic that Indonesia could soon become one of the world’s major food producers.

“It won’t be long before Indonesia becomes one of the world’s food barns. Farmers and fishermen are the backbone of this republic,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Food Agency Head and Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said government policies have accelerated national food production and improved farmers’ welfare.

He noted that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has ranked Indonesia as the largest rice producer in Southeast Asia. The country is also projected to have the world’s fourth-largest rice stock in the 2026–2027 period.

“This achievement is the result of the hard work of farmers and fishermen, fully supported by government policies,” Minister Amran said. (Misni Parjiati)