Prof. Handry Imansyah: Stopping Imports of Commodities in 2025, a Strategic Step and Its Challenges
BANJARMASIN – The government’s plan to stop importing a number of important commodities in 2025 is considered a strategic step to strengthen national food independence. This was expressed by Prof. Handry Imansyah, Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM), who assessed that the policy is in line with Indonesia’s great potential in the agricultural and natural resources sectors.
According to Prof. Handry, this policy must be supported by the readiness of infrastructure, technology, and increased local production capacity to ensure that domestic needs are met without sacrificing quality or quantity.
“This step is relevant, but Indonesia’s high dependence on imports shows that there are still significant challenges in the local agricultural sector,” he explained.
In the short term, stopping imports could trigger an increase in food prices due to local supplies that are not yet ready. This also risks triggering inflation and reducing people’s purchasing power. Industries that depend on imported raw materials, such as animal feed and food, also have the potential to face operational disruptions.
However, in the long term, this policy is believed to be able to encourage food security and economic independence if accompanied by increased agricultural productivity and strengthening of distribution infrastructure. “Without thorough preparation, regional disparities in meeting food needs can occur,” added Prof. Handry.
Prof. Handry said that there are several things that need to be considered by the government so that this policy is successful, including:
- Strengthening Local Production Capacity by ensuring the availability of stable supplies.
- Improving Distribution Infrastructure by ensuring access to all regions, especially remote areas.
- Price Stabilization with the aim of protecting consumers and farmers from price fluctuations.
- Incentives for Local Industry that focus on supporting industries that use local raw materials.
In addition, the community also needs to adapt to price changes and support the consumption of local products as part of a collective effort to achieve national food security. Food diversification is another solution to reduce pressure on certain commodities.
Although a total cessation of imports is difficult to achieve in the near future, Indonesia can gradually reduce dependence on imports by increasing local productivity.
Prof. Handry emphasized, “This is a long-term investment for the future of the nation, but it requires thorough preparation from all parties—government, society, and industry.”
This plan to stop imports is a momentum to encourage the transformation of the food and agricultural sector towards sustainable independence.
