Zulhas: If Planting Rice Ain't Profitable, Farmers Switch to Palm Oil

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan thinks that the free market principles adopted after the reform era have shifted the direction of national economic development. Market mechanisms push people to go for the most profitable commodities, even if it means less production of strategic food crops. “If growing rice ain’t profitable, well, just plant palm oil,” he said during a National Seminar on the Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperatives in Banda Aceh, Tuesday (4/8/2026). This mindset, according to Zulkifli, has made the government focus more on high-value economic sectors while the food sector gets less attention, so domestic production still can’t meet national needs and we still rely on imports. Zulkifli stressed that food security can’t be left entirely to market forces. The state has to step in with policies that keep food production going and provide incentives for farmers. President Prabowo Subianto is paying a lot of attention to food self-sufficiency to cut down import dependence. The government keeps pushing to boost farm productivity, strengthen farmer institutions, and make the most of the Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperatives. Zulkifli hopes these policies can create a profitable farming ecosystem so our national food security gets stronger amid global economic ups and downs. https://www.harianaceh.co.id/2026/08/05/zulhas-kalau-tanam-padi-tak-untung-ya-beralih-saja-ke-sawit/