MIND ID Empowers Farmers for National Food Self-sufficiency

Jakarta, 29 July 2025 – MIND ID or Mining Industry Indonesia, the Holding State-Owned Enterprise for the Mining Industry, has consistently implemented self-sufficiency programs for farmers in the surrounding areas of operations. This move is a real contribution to supporting the food self-sufficiency programs launched by the government.

MIND ID Corporate Secretary, Pria Utama, conveyed that food self-sufficiency is becoming an increasingly crucial issue in the midst of global uncertainty.  A country must be able to fulfill its needs for food independently without being too dependent on supplies from other countries.

Aside from ensuring the nutritional fulfillment of the people, food self-sufficiency can also help save foreign exchange and protect domestic price stability.

However, the challenges to achieving food self-sufficiency in Indonesia are not easy. Climate change, limitations on land, access to technology, as well as a lack of partiality towards the agricultural sector, become issues that need to be overcome systematically.

MIND ID is committed to implementing the guidance program, which encourages farmers to be more empowered and capable of contributing to the big vision of the government in creating food self-sufficiency.

“Food self-sufficiency is a joint vision with the government. The entire MIND ID Group is committed to supporting the program through various initiatives which are right on target for farmers living within the mine areas,” he said.

Pria explained that in East Halmahera, North Maluku, ANTAM presents Kebun Tani Harmoni, or the Harmonious Farmers Garden, a program to change unproductive land to fruit gardens. This program has the involvement of more than 50 farmers who previously did not have farming skills.

Through a participative approach and technical assistance, the farmers now plant various commodities such as corn, eggplants, water spinach, mustard greens, peanuts, string beans, bittergourd, tomatoes, chillies, pumpkins, cassava, sweet potatoes, taro, jicama, and watermelon. The harvest not only fulfills local consumption, but also supplies the surrounding areas.

At Tanjung Enim, South Sumatera, PT Bukit Asam operates an agricultural Solar Powered Generator (Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Surya – PLTS) irrigation pump system, which provides clean water and stable access for more than 1,100 farmers. This infrastructure allows farmers to plant routinely and raise harvest results, while at the same time boosting the growth of the village economy. 

Bukit Asam also implemented the program to raise egg-laying ducks at Tegal Rejo Village, Muara Enim Regency. With a total of 500 ducks, the local people participating in this program are capable of generating more than Rp5 million per month, more than the local area’s Regional Minimum Wage or UMR. 

Meanwhile, in Morowali, Central Sulawesi, PT Vale Indonesia is counselling 44 paddy farmers in six villages with a total land area of 11.03 hectares. These farmers adopt the organic paddy planting system without the use of synthetic chemicals, and have produced 8,500 kilograms of rice, most of which has the organic certification from INOFICE.

With this method, the productivity of the farmers is significantly increased by up to twice compared to the conventional method, while at the same time, protecting the sustainability of the environment.

Pria stressed that all farmer self-sufficiency programs at MIND ID Group begin with the mapping of local needs, followed by training, accompaniment, to the opening of market access. With the SROI (Social Return on Investment) evaluation approach, MIND ID ensures that the impact produced is truly felt by the communities.

“We believe that food self-sufficiency is a vision that is reachable. MIND ID is present through various programs adapted to the social and environmental conditions of each region, to provide the best contribution,” he concluded.