Slowly but surely, the year 2045 will be a special moment for Indonesia: 100 years of independence! The Golden Generation (Generasi Emas) of 2045 will celebrate this historic milestone, and to realize this grand vision, food self-sufficiency is a foundation that cannot be compromised. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to allow us to utilize our natural resources independently from imports.
PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (Astra Agro) welcomes the government’s grand vision and is taking action. As a responsible member of the nation, Astra Agro is actively contributing to the 2025 food self-sufficiency program by implementing various initiatives to plant staple crops such as corn and rice.
Many may know Astra Agro as a palm oil company. However, they are now taking concrete steps by simultaneously planting corn on the lands of their subsidiaries, from Sumatra, Kalimantan, to Sulawesi. This is not just a business program, but a tangible manifestation of Astra Agro’s commitment to “Prosper with the Nations,” which means Prosper Together with the Nation in English. Astra Agro often strives to make a real contribution to the country and improve the welfare of the community.
Astra Agro actively involves the entire community that forms part of its extended family, which includes employees and their families, collectively referred to as “paguyuban.” Currently, there are 499 paguyuban spread across eight provinces, consisting of more than 30,000 heads of families. This community is very solid and independent. Even before the introduction of the corn planting program, these communities were already skilled in cultivating various types of plants.
For Astra Agro, the spirit of community empowerment and food security has become the heartbeat of every line of its business. A program that turns out to be in line with the government’s target to make Indonesia a global food barn by 2045.
The planting of corn is the first step in a collaboration with the local government aimed at increasing the production of strategic food commodities. Corn has exceptional potential for enhancing food security and boosting the national economy. In addition to being a staple food, corn serves as a crucial raw material for animal feed, flour, and a variety of processed foods. Notably, corn is a vital raw material for 32 different industrial sectors, making it the third highest value-added agricultural commodity after rice and palm oil.
After successfully planting simultaneously across 31 Astra Agro entities in Indonesia, they also managed to harvest their first corn almost at the same time, including in Aceh, Riau, Jambi, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, and Central Sulawesi.
Astra Agro’s commitment to food security extends beyond corn. They are also providing gogo rice seeds to farmer groups in Cianjur Regency, covering an area of 100 hectares. This initiative goes beyond just meeting food needs; it also aims to preserve our ancestral cultural heritage.
Gogo rice is a cultural treasure that is being revived in Bumi Parahyangan, West Java. Planting gogo rice contributes to the government’s program for achieving rice self-sufficiency in the country. As a type of rice that can thrive in dry or rain-fed fields, gogo rice is an effective solution to support food self-sufficiency in Cianjur Regency, which plays a vital role in food security for the Baduy community. The cultivation of gogo rice has been practiced since ancient times due to its resilience during the dry season. Furthermore, the planting process is simpler, as it does not require a complicated irrigation system.
This type of rice can yield up to 7 tons of dry grains per hectare and has a shorter harvest period compared to regular rice. Gogo rice can also be grown alongside other crops using an intercropping system. Importantly, the rice produced from gogo rice is considered premium and is beneficial for diabetics.
The planting of gogo rice in Cianjur has taken place in seven different locations, including Kanoman Village, Cigea Village, and Cibokor Village. Astra Agro is collaborating closely with the Directorate General of Estates at the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that this assistance reaches those who need it most. This partnership between Astra Agro, the government, and the Farmers’ Group Association (Gapoktan) in Cianjur is a significant step toward achieving food self-sufficiency.
In the near future, Astra Agro will conduct the first harvest of gogo rice in collaboration with the residents of these villages. Stay tuned for this exciting story in the upcoming Sustainability Aspiration Stories!
