Soldiers, Cronies and Deforestation: The story behind Indonesia's food estate programme

Summary

The video script explores Indonesia's ambitious food estate program, which aims to address food scarcity through large-scale land clearing for crops like cassava. While the government insists that forests remain protected, concerns arise over deforestation, environmental impacts, and the potential exploitation of local communities. The military's involvement and the establishment of a private company linked to Prabowo Subianto, the Minister of Defense, raise questions about conflicts of interest and the exploitation of resources for political gain. As the program targets areas like Papua, the situation remains tense, with growing concerns about its environmental and social consequences.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Indonesian government launched a food estate program 20 years ago to address food scarcity after the UN's warning about potential food shortages due to the pandemic.
• 😀 Environmentalists raised concerns about the program worsening deforestation, but the Ministry of Environment and Forestry claimed the forests would remain safe.
• 😀 Despite reassurances, the Ministry of Defense began clearing forests in Kalimantan to make way for the program, including controversial policy changes.
• 😀 The government's food estate plan, including a proposal to plant one million hectares of cassava across Indonesia, faced criticism for being an insufficient solution to food security issues.
• 😀 The program also highlighted the high costs of food production in Indonesia, making nutritious food, such as vegetables and fruits, difficult for people to access.
• 😀 The initial target for forest clearance was the rainforests in Gunung Mas, Central Kalimantan, with deforestation beginning in November 2020, shortly after the supporting regulations were established.
• 😀 The clearance endangered orangutan habitats, a point raised by experts and government analysts.
• 😀 Agrina, a company with no clear track record, was identified as a key player in the food estate program, despite being a newly established entity with an unclear ownership structure.
• 😀 Agrina is linked to a charitable foundation initially set up to support military families, and it is run by Prabowo Subianto, the Minister of Defense, and several high-ranking officials.
• 😀 Experts warned of a potential conflict of interest due to Prabowo's control over both a private company and a government initiative, as Agrina sought investment from South Korea for the food estate program.
• 😀 The focus of the program shifted to Papua, Indonesia's largest remaining rainforests, where large swathes of land were eyed for the food estate, raising concerns about the impact on indigenous communities and the environment.
• 😀 There was growing criticism of the involvement of the military, with its history of human rights violations against indigenous groups in Papua, as they were tasked with overseeing the development of new plantations in the area.

Q & A

What is the primary aim of Indonesia's food estate program?

The primary aim of the food estate program is to increase food production in Indonesia, specifically focusing on producing cassava locally to replace imported flour.

Why are environmental activists concerned about the food estate program?

Environmental activists are concerned that the food estate program will exacerbate deforestation, as it involves clearing large areas of forests to make way for agricultural development.

How has the Ministry of Environment and Forestry responded to concerns about deforestation?

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has insisted that Indonesia's forests remain safe, despite the ongoing deforestation linked to the food estate program.

What role did Prabowo Subianto play in the food estate program?

Prabowo Subianto, the Minister of Defense, was appointed to oversee the food estate program and quickly moved forward with plans to plant cassava on one million hectares of land across Indonesia.

Why is cassava being prioritized for the food estate program?

Cassava is being prioritized as a replacement for imported flour in Indonesia, aiming to reduce dependency on foreign flour and support local production.

What are the criticisms of the food estate program from economic experts?

Economic experts, including those from the World Bank, have criticized the food estate program, stating it is not an effective solution to Indonesia's food scarcity. The program's focus on clearing forests for cassava cultivation does not address the high production costs and the lack of nutritious food such as vegetables and fruits.

What is the significance of the deforestation in Kalimantan, specifically in Gunung Mas?

Deforestation in Gunung Mas, Kalimantan, is significant as it started shortly after regulations supporting the food estate program were introduced. This has raised concerns about the long-term environmental impact and the potential violation of existing regulations meant to protect forests.

What is the connection between Agrinex and the food estate program?

Agrinex, a relatively new company with unclear background, plays a key role in the food estate program. It is involved in the development and investment of the program, including proposing a substantial investment from South Korea.

What potential conflicts of interest are associated with the food estate program?

There are concerns about conflicts of interest, particularly with Prabowo Subianto's control over both the Ministry of Defense and a private company, Agrinex. This raises questions about profit motives and transparency within the program.

What are the future expansion plans for the food estate program?

The food estate program is set to expand further, with plans targeting Papua, a region with significant rainforests and unique wildlife. However, this expansion could lead to even more deforestation and conflict with indigenous communities.