By: Prabowo Subianto [excerpted from “Strategic Transformation of the Nation: Towards Golden Indonesia 2045”, page 49, 4th softcover edition]
With nearly 280 million inhabitants, Indonesia is currently the fourth most populous country in the world.
However, with an annual population growth rate of 1.1%, Indonesia’s ranking will soon be surpassed by Nigeria, whose population is projected to exceed ours.
By 2045, it is estimated that Indonesia’s population will reach 324 million, marking an increase of 44 million people over the next 20 years—almost equivalent to adding a new province the size of West Java.
As both global and Indonesian populations grow, food production will need to increase by 56% to meet the needs of an estimated world population of 10 billion by 2050. Meeting this demand will require an expansion of agricultural land twice the size of India. Ensuring food security for everyone will pose a formidable challenge.
Amidst population growth and climate change, nations will increasingly prioritize their own food production. This elevates the urgency for Indonesia to achieve food self-sufficiency.
Moreover, we must also create jobs, build schools, hospitals, and sanitation facilities, provide housing, and develop other supporting infrastructure to ensure that all Indonesians can lead decent lives. This is no small feat.