Food Securitization In Indonesia: The Involvement Of Indonesian Military In Food Security Program

Abstract

Food security in Indonesia is currently conceptualized as food sovereignty, as stated in the vision of the Joko Widodo administration, Nawacita. In food securitization program, the government involves the TNI to maintain national stability. The TNI is considered capable of maintaining integrity and sovereignty, including food availability, access, benefits, and stability. Using civil-military relations as the conceptual framework, this paper attempts to analyze the role of the TNI's Military Operations Other than War (OMSP) in carrying out food securitization. Based on a qualitative study with interview data and secondary data, this study reveals that the involvement of the TNI in food securitization has created controversy. The government's move to involve the TNI in food affairs can potentially restore the Indonesian military's political role as it prevailed during the Suharto’s regime. However, the military is needed to support the agricultural sector in conflict areas such as Papua. The support from TNI personnel is oriented to solve agricultural problems by activating territorial functions in rural areas. So far, the involvement of the TNI in Food Security has been carried out in stages in all regions of the country; when a problem occurs in the agricultural sector, the TNI reports the problem to the government.