AN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT LEGACY UNREALISED BY FIVE PRESIDENTS, 19662014

Sediono M.P Tjondronegoro

Masyarakat Indonesia
Vol 39, No 2 (2013): Majalah Ilmu-Ilmu Sosial Indonesia

The founding fathers of the Indonesian Republic, Soekarno and Moh. Hatta, whobecame first President and Vice President respectively, designated the agriculturalsector as the major factor contributing to Indonesias economic growth. Prof AnneBooths research findings during the Green Revolution in the mid-1970s also indicatethe importance of the agricultural sector. Food self-sufficiency in the country wasachieved in 1985, when Indonesia was close to its take-off stage.However, subsequent developments after the New Order period indicated a gradual shiftof policy guide lines from Peoples Welfare to Export-driven Growth and IncreasingForeign investment. Five Presidents since Sukarno have neglected the urgency ofagrarian reform in Indonesia.Keywords: Agriculture, Food policy, Land use, Population