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| Food Security |
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Overview
Indonesia achieved self-sufficiency in rice production by the mid 1980s. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the government focused on improving the efficiency of rice cultivation through a program called the Green Revolution, which introduced high-yielding rice varieties. As a result, Indonesia accomplished a significant increase in rice production with an average annual growth rate of 4.2% between 1975 and 1985, and was able to become a rice exporter.
The food situation in Indonesia began to deteriorate in the 1990s. A severe drought in 1994 as well as the El Nino-induced droughts in 1997 and 1998 - the most severe droughts in 50 years - drastically reduced food crop production such as rice, coffee and cocoa. As a result, rice imports rose from 2 million tons in 1997 to 6 million tons in 1998/1999, and then decreased to a projected 1.6 million tons in 2002. Although Indonesia is the third largest producer of rice, it remains the world's largest importer, as a result of natural disasters and a decrease in rice cultivation areas.
Although prices and inflation have stabilized, the government has also come under mounting pressure to deal with rice farmers' complaints of low prices, particularly during harvests, which they blame on the abundance of rice imports and in April 2002, the government decided to curb imports through higher tariffs. Playing close attention to how international trade agreements and national pricing policies affect agricultural workers is an important part of understanding the effects of poverty.
For more information, see Jakarta stuck in neutral as rice imports soar
Impact of the Financial Crisis
The 1997 financial crisis also had a negative impact on food security in Indonesia. The decline in domestic crop production and the rise in domestic consumption required growing imports of important food crops. However, the immense plunge of the rupiah radically reduced the import capacity of the country. In addition, high unemployment cut the purchasing power of people. Even for those employed, a decline in the real value of income further undermined the ability of people to pay for food.
The poor were affected most by the recent food crisis. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), many households in Indonesia have been forced to cut back to just two or even one meal per day, increasing the incidence of malnutrition. In response to the deteriorating food situation, the FAO and the World Food Programme (WFP) began an emergency food assistance operation from May 1998.
The ongoing economic crisis in Indonesia continues to have an effect on food security in Indonesia. Levels of insecurity have been compounded in recent years by natural disasters, and the separatist and religious conflicts that have broken out throughout Indonesia, causing widespread displacement and upheaval.
International Assistance
Numerous NGOs and governments are currently providing food assistance to Indonesia in order to alleviate the problem of food insecurity.
After conducting a joint FAO/WFP assessment mission in 1997, WFP began providing emergency food assistance to 4.6 million people in Indonesia between the period of May 1998 and May 1999. Three operational strategies were adopted.
First, WFP focused on the most vulnerable groups of nursing mothers and children, providing them with blended food. Second, WFP carried out Food For Work community development activities such as farm rehabilitation and community infrastructure activities in close cooperation with Indonesian ministries, local governments, and with other UN agencies. Lastly, WFP implemented relief distribution activities to families eating only once per day.
Other NGOs active in Indonesia include the Catholic Relief Service (CRS), CARE, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Vision. They supported WFP's Food for Work activities and distributed blended food to people in various regions of Indonesia.
While WFP's emergency mission ended in May 1999, people in Indonesia, especially those living near urban areas, were still experiencing food insecurity. As a result, WFP decided to resume its food aid program for the urban poor.
Through the implementation of the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO), WFP is providing food assistance to 2.4 million people. In contrast to the previous operation of 1998/1999, WFP is delegating much of the food assistance operation to the NGOs. In the PRRO, NGOs identify the beneficiaries and control project resources, while WFP concentrates on supporting these NGOs in implementation and monitoring.
For more information please see Emergency Assistance to Drought Victims.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has initiated projects to provide displaced families with fishing and food processing equipment, and agricultural assistance in an effort to promote sustainable development.
For more information, please see IDPs in Indonesia - East Timorese Refugees
Countries including the United States have also provided food assistance. USAID has provided funds for emergency food assistance programs in both rural and urban areas, in conjunction with the World Food Programme, Catholic Relief Services, CARE, Church World Service, World Vision, Inc., and Mercy Corps International.
Despite a slowly improving economy, concerns about the food situation remain as a result of persistent conflict, natural disasters such as floods in Sumatra and Java, and internal population displacement due to instability and poverty. An estimated 1.3 million have been displaced in recent years, posing a major challenge to food security. WFP studies have found that IDPs have experienced difficulties in obtaining food, but that malnutrition has not been widespread.
See World Food Program, Report n.19 10 May 2002
Resources
For more information on food security on Indonesia, please click on the following links:
FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Indonesia 8 April 1999
Special Report FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Indonesia
Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (AARD)
For more information please click on the following links:
See El Niņo's impact threatens food supply in Asia
Drought-reduced harvest threatens food security in Indonesia
For a summary of WFP-assisted programs, see Projects - Indonesia
Overview of Mercy Corps programs in Indonesia
Updated April 2002
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