Indonesia FAO Country Profile – Food Security

Indonesia’s large population and agricultural strength (it doubled cereals production between 1979 and 2009 and almost quadrupled meat production for the same period) – shows that one of the world’s most populous regions is able to create food self-sufficiency and food security.

However, the Indonesian archipelago is also subject to severe natural disasters including earthquakes and tsunamis, so despite their gains, 19.9 million people are still malnourished. Twenty-eight percent of Indonesia’s children are underweight and 42 percent suffer from stunted growth. However, average life expectancy is a rather high 71 years of age.

FAO's main in-country programmes

National Programme for Food Security (NPFS)

The General Policy for Food Security (2006-2009) was produced in Indonesian language by the National Food Security Council (NFSC), which is preparing a similar document to cover 2010-2014. Through a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project, FAO provided support to the Secretariat of the NFSC in formulating a document that includes nationally funded programmes and includes elements retained in the implementation of the above general policy.

Programmes:

-       Desa Mandiri Pangan (Village Food Resilience);

-       Development and updating of the Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Atlas, mainly done in cooperation with the World Food Programme;

-       Enhancement of Food Diversification and Nutrition Program - promoting home gardens and school gardens;

-       Strengthening of food distribution institutions;

-       Strengthening the NFSC Secretariat.

Regional Programme for Food Security (RPFS)

Indonesia is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). FAO has been collaborating with the ASEAN Secretariat to formulate an ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and the Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN Region (SPA-FS), which was adopted by the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry in Hanoi, Viet Nam in October 2008.

The ASEAN Summit held in Cha-Am, Thailand, in March 2009 adopted the AIFS framework and SPA-FS and assured resources required to undertake the plan. A Statement on Food Security in the ASEAN Region was issued.

It reaffirmed the conclusions reached in previous meetings such as:

The World Food Summit (1996), which adopted the Rome Declaration on World Food Security; the World Food Summit Plan of Action; the World Food Summit-five years later on achieving food security for all through an ongoing effort to eradicate hunger in all countries and the declaration adopted at the 2008 FAO High-level Conference on World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy as well as the commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

It pledged to embrace food security as a matter of permanent and high priority policy, review the ASEAN’s commitment to achieving objectives of the World Food Summit, the MDGs, and committed ASEAN to ten specific measures.

In the follow up to measure nine (work in partnership with ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners and the UN for cooperation on agriculture and food, particularly on agricultural research and development, transfer of agricultural and food production technology, improvement on infrastructure, development of food security early warning systems, and other measures outlined in the AIFS and SPA-FS), of the above statement, ASEAN and FAO-RAP jointly organized an ASEAN-FAO Regional Conference on Food Security in Bangkok in May 2009, which was attended by all the ASEAN member countries, Japan, the EU, various UN Agencies, international organizations, and Civil Society Organizations.

Emergency Prevention System for Trans boundary Animals and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES) - Animal Health Component

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has declared Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) an endemic disease in Indonesia. Thirty-one out of 33 provinces have reported HPAI outbreaks since 2004 and HPAI remains endemic in Java, Sumatra, Bali and South Sulawesi with sporadic outbreaks reported from other areas. Since 2005, Indonesia has become the global hotspot for the HPAI epizootic and for human H5N1 infections. Due to the high levels of H5N1 virus circulating in poultry and the frequent contact between poultry and humans, Indonesia is potentially the most likely origin of a human H5N1 influenza pandemic. To date, 141 human cases have been reported, out of which 115 persons died.

Since February 2004, FAO has put in place both country specific and regional projects to help curb the outbreaks of HPAI and associated sporadic human cases of H5N1 infection in Indonesia. A phased, integrated control programme designed to lead to the eventual elimination of HPAI from the Indonesian archipelago is being formulated, promoting intensified control activities in western Java.

Indonesia is a beneficiary under the following on-going AI projects:

-       Expansion of the AI Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response Programme in Indonesia

-       Regional Coordination of AI Control and Prevention in Asia

-       Assistance through FAO for the control of AI in poultry in Indonesia

-       Monitoring AI virus variants in Indonesian poultry and defining an effective and sustainable vaccination strategy

-       Emergency assistance for the control and prevention of AI - AI activities in Asia, Middle East and North Africa

-       Strengthening coordination network for diagnosis and surveillance for the control and prevention of HPAI in Southeast Asia

-       Strengthening the Control and Prevention of HPAI and enhancing public awareness

-       Consultant Services for Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response

-       Consultant Services for Community Based Vaccination

Rabies is also a growing concern in Indonesia. The island of Bali, previously free, has recorded cases in dogs since November 2008 and to date approximately nine people have become infected and died. A dog vaccination and population control programme has contained the disease and there are good prospects for its eradication from the island.

EMPRES - Desert Locust Component

The Indonesian archipelago is affected by the Migratory Locust (Locusta migratoria) sub-species. An important outbreak occurred in several islands in 1997-98, especially in southern Sumatra. Since then, locust issues seem to become more frequent in some parts of the archipelago and in particular in the Nusa Tengara Timur (NTT) Province, where serious attacks were reported during several months from March 2007.

Upon Indonesia’s request in 2007 and following FAO technical assessment, recommendations were made for aerial control operations using a bio-pesticide (due to very sensitive environment and omnipresence of water bodies), supplemented by ground control measures for immediate crop protection. On the basis of this assessment, two national projects, funded by AusAid (Australia) and FAO, were prepared to control the Migratory Locust outbreak in Belu and TTU (Timur Tengah Utara) districts.

Emergency and rehabilitation

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago nation, with a population of 245 million people spread out across some 18 000 islands. It is one of the most disaster prone countries with a high number of natural and manmade hazards. Located at the intersection of three crustal plates, increased seismic and volcanic activity has been observed with the continuing threat of a major earthquake or tsunami. As part of the "Ring of Fire,” its 128 active volcanoes create an intense risk of volcanic eruptions. In addition flash floods, landslides, forest fires, animal disease outbreaks, pest attacks and drought are recurrent and have significant human and economic toll.

Millions of Indonesian’s livelihoods and their food security is dependant on renewable natural resources. The overall food supply situation is relatively stable, however, pockets of malnutrition exist among the poorest people. It is estimated that more than 5 million people have suffered from the tsunami/earthquake in 2005 and the Yogyakarta earthquake in 2006 creating ongoing food insecurity and an increased prevalence of HPAI.

FAO emergency and recovery role in Indonesia

In order to reduce vulnerability and to increase self-reliance and food security, FAO is leading the UN agriculture cluster (co-chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture) and is closely supporting the Government of Indonesia and other partners on the recovery and preparedness of disaster-prone areas.

FAO’s humanitarian response is structured to focus on the following:

-       The increased prevalence of HPAI;

-       The earthquake-tsunami and conflict-affected people in Aceh Province;

-       The earthquake affected people in Yogyakarta and Central Java Provinces;

-       Locust outbreak and food insecurity in NTT Province.

FAO’s rehabilitation and recovery response comprises a wide variety of technical interventions including:

-       Capture fisheries - aquaculture, post-harvest and marketing;

-       Rice and vegetable production;

-       Livestock management;

-       Community forestry rehabilitation;

-       Locust control and prevention;

-       Agriculture, both to the home-based industry and micro-credit;

-       Food security strategic planning and analysis;

-       Training and capacity building.

For information specific to the HPAI programme, visit http://www.fao.org/avianflu/en/index.html.

Since 2005, the FAO emergency and rehabilitation portfolio in Indonesia has implemented 25 projects, with funding amounting to more than US$ 56 million.

The challenges ahead include:

-       Agriculture and food security sustained response and preparedness/contingency planning

-       Synergies reinforced with UN agencies and NGOs to rebuild livelihoods of conflict- and disaster-affected populations

-       Support increased to the Government and their Disaster and Risk Management system

-       Vulnerable populations assisted in transitioning from emergency to longer-term development

-       Technical advice provided to minimize the impact of soaring food prices.

National Medium Term Priority Framework (NMTPF)

Indonesia is at its final stage on the preparation of its National Medium Term Priority Framework for 2010-2014. The NMTPF will also serve as input for the up-coming UNDAF preparation for Indonesia in 2010.

http://www.fao.org/countries/55528/en/idn/