Report on National Food Security Strategy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Strengthening Food Reserves for National Security

The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has reported a strategic commitment to reinforce the Regional Government Food Reserves (CPPD). This initiative is identified as a primary strategy for establishing national food security, which is fundamentally built upon the strength and resilience of regional food systems. This approach directly supports the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), by ensuring stable and accessible food supplies at all administrative levels.

Legal and Strategic Framework

The mandate for strengthening food reserves is legally grounded in Indonesia’s Law Number 18 of 2012 on Food. The strategic framework for national food security is outlined in this legislation.

• Article 23 of the Food Law: This article explicitly regulates the structure of national food reserves.
• Three-Tiered System: The law establishes a comprehensive system comprising government food reserves, regional government food reserves, and community food reserves.

Multi-Level Reserve System and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

The national strategy employs a multi-level reserve system, with each tier playing a distinct role in ensuring food availability and stability, directly contributing to the targets of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

1. Government Food Reserves (CPP): Utilized for large-scale national interventions, such as the rice assistance program. This directly addresses SDG Target 2.1 by working to end hunger and ensure access to sufficient food for all, particularly the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
2. Regional Government Food Reserves (CPPD): Function as strategic buffer stocks at the local level. Their role is critical in mitigating food price volatility, which aligns with SDG Target 2.c, aimed at ensuring the proper functioning of food commodity markets and limiting extreme price fluctuations.
3. Community Food Reserves: Form the foundational level of food security, empowering local communities to manage their own food resources.

The Role of Regional Reserves in Community Resilience (SDG 11)

The CPPD plays a pivotal role in building local resilience, a core component of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). By ensuring food availability at the sub-national level, these reserves enhance the capacity of communities to withstand shocks.

• Emergency Preparedness: CPPD acts as a first line of defense in anticipating and responding to local emergencies and natural disasters.
• Price Stabilization: The reserves are used to counter sharp price fluctuations, protecting local populations from economic shocks and ensuring food affordability.
• Village-Level Management: Effective management of reserves down to the village level is emphasized as a key to success, fostering self-sufficient and resilient communities.

Collaborative Governance and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The successful implementation of this food security strategy hinges on effective collaboration, reflecting the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Bapanas has highlighted the importance of synergy between various government bodies.

• Inter-Agency Coordination: Bapanas is actively coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs to align national and regional objectives.
• Promotion of Local Production: A circular from the Ministry of Home Affairs encourages regional governments to develop local food production based on the unique potential and characteristics of their areas. This strategy not only strengthens the CPPD but also promotes sustainable local agriculture, contributing further to SDG 2.
• Integrated Approach: The strategy recognizes that strong district-level food reserves are the building blocks for robust provincial and national food security, requiring solid management and strong collaboration across all levels of government.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – This is the most prominent SDG, as the article’s central theme is national food security, strengthening food reserves, and managing food supply to prevent shortages and price instability. The efforts of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) to establish Government Food Reserves (CPP) and Regional Government Food Reserves (CPPD) directly contribute to ending hunger and ensuring food access.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article repeatedly emphasizes the need for collaboration and synergy. It highlights the coordination between Bapanas, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and regional governments (provincial, district, and village levels) to achieve food security. This multi-level governance and partnership approach is a core principle of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food.
   • Explanation: The article discusses the role of Regional Government Food Reserves (CPPD) as “buffer stocks at the local level, especially in anticipating and facing emergencies, disasters, or price fluctuations.” This directly supports the goal of ensuring all people have access to sufficient food, particularly in vulnerable situations. The mention of the “rice assistance program” is a concrete example of an intervention to provide food to those in need.
2. Target 2.c: Adopt measures to ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets and limit price volatility.
   • Explanation: The article explicitly states that one of the purposes of the CPPD is to manage “price fluctuations.” By maintaining buffer stocks, the government can intervene in the market to stabilize prices, which is the core objective of this target.
3. Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.
   • Explanation: The article provides a clear example of policy coherence in action. It mentions that “Bapanas has coordinated with the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has issued a circular urging regional governments to develop local food.” This demonstrates a coordinated effort between different government bodies to create policies that reinforce each other to achieve the common goal of food security.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 2.1: The existence and operational capacity of the Government Food Reserves (CPP) and Regional Government Food Reserves (CPPD). The article implies that the strength of these reserves is a measure of food security, as stated, “If food reserves at the district level are strong, they will be strong at the provincial and national level as well.” The implementation of the “rice assistance program” also serves as a direct indicator of actions taken to ensure food access.
• Indicator for Target 2.c: The article implies the use of an indicator related to food price stability. The success of the CPPD in mitigating “price fluctuations” would be a key measure. This corresponds to the official SDG indicator 2.c.1 (Indicator of food price anomalies). The effectiveness of the buffer stock system would be measured by its ability to keep food price volatility low.
• Indicator for Target 17.14: The article points to a mechanism for policy coherence. The “circular” issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, based on coordination with Bapanas, is a tangible output. This aligns with indicator 17.14.1 (Number of countries with mechanisms in place to enhance policy coherence for sustainable development). Progress could be measured by the number of regional governments that act on this circular to develop local food production.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: en.antaranews.com