UNAIR NEWS Prof. Drs. Ec. Tri Haryanto, M.P., Ph.D., was officially inaugurated as a professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), (UNAIR), on Wednesday (May 28, 2025). The ceremony took place in the Garuda Mukti Hall, MERR-C Campus, UNAIR.
Emphasizing food availability
In his inaugural address titled Developing Rice Agriculture to Support National Food Security: An Agricultural Economics Perspective, Prof. Haryanto underscored the importance of ensuring food that is sufficient, safe, nutritious, and affordable as a key condition for achieving food security in Indonesia.
淔ood security involves more than just availability 攊t檚 also about having access to safe, nutritious, and diverse food to support a healthy and productive life, he stated.
Although Indonesia檚 food security index has shown progress, Prof. Haryanto pointed out that 4.5 percent of the population still faces moderate to severe food insecurity. Meanwhile, the rate of undernutrition remains high at 8.5 percent.
淲hile Indonesia檚 food security is improving, two critical indicators must be addressed going forward: food availability, and the sustainability and adaptability of food systems, Prof. Haryanto said.
Increasing agricultural productivity
Prof. Haryanto noted that poverty is the root cause of food insecurity. Most of Indonesia檚 poor population consists of smallholder farmers and agricultural laborers, many of whom live in food-producing regions. Therefore, increasing agricultural productivity攅specially in rice farming攊s essential for boosting food supply, raising incomes, and reducing poverty.
淚n recent decades, there has been a shift in how agricultural development is approached. Today, rice farming should not only aim for high yields but also consider broader issues such as environmental sustainability, food nutrition, farmer welfare, adaptation to climate change, and the role of women in agriculture, he explained.
Advancing sustainable agricultural strategies
Indonesia ranks as the world檚 fourth-largest rice producer and consumer, with annual consumption at 95 kilograms per capita. Although the country has achieved 90 percent self-sufficiency in food, Prof. Haryanto emphasized that Indonesia still relies on rice imports. 淪trengthening domestic rice production is critical, he noted.
He proposed several strategies to promote rice agriculture that supports food security while centering on farmer welfare. These include fair pricing, targeted subsidies, training programs, access to modern technology, and improved agricultural infrastructure. 淔armers should not just be seen as producers, but as key drivers of rural economic development, he said.
Prof. Haryanto concluded by stating that with the right economic strategies, rice farming can become a major force in building an Indonesia free from hunger, poverty, and inequality. 淚n the face of global and domestic challenges, agriculture is a cornerstone of national resilience攁nd rice is its foundation, he affirmed.
Author: Nur Khovivatul Mukorrobah
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
