Tenth International Conference on Food Studies

Abstract

Dependency on imported rice and wheat has a long-term effect on the nation, affects domestic prices, profit for local farmers, quality of food consumption in the community, as well as utilization of other locally grown carbohydrate sources. Indonesia must find ways to provide carbohydrate sources independently for its people through the utilization of local food to attain food security and sovereignty. To achieve this, the government needs to ensure food diversification from both the production and consumption side. Our study proposed an alternative policy to this matter. The analysis was preceded by making a Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat (SWOT) matrix, then determining the strategies, namely the ST, OT, WT, WO strategies. The strategies were grouped into three alternative policies: food diversification policy from the production side; from the consumption side; status quo policy, as in continuing to import rice and wheat, as well as maintaining current consumption patterns of society remains another viable option. Each policy alternatives were further analysed using the resource theory, then a cost-benefit analysis was carried out to determine the chosen alternative that provides greater benefits to the cost and with other alternatives. The result showed that the best policy alternative should combine policies to increase diversification from both the production and consumption sides. In the future, this policy might be crucial for Indonesia to avoid the trap of imported food that creates high dependency on the food supply of other countries, and thus neglecting the local potential that is of strategic value and worth developing.