Indonesian navy opens 3,110 hectares of new land for soybean production
The Indonesian navy will cultivate 3,110 hectares of newly opened soybean land across seven regions. The military-backed program is intended to strengthen domestic supply and reduce Indonesia’s dependence on soybean imports.
Navy expands soybean cultivation across seven regions
The Indonesian navy is opening 3,110 hectares of new agricultural land for soybean production as the government seeks to strengthen national supplies and reduce reliance on imports. The additional area is distributed across seven regions and will be managed by navy personnel attached to the respective regional naval commands, according to Republika.
General Agus Subiyanto, commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, presented the program to President Prabowo Subianto during a simultaneous major harvest event at Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base in Malang, East Java. Agus said on Friday that the navy would support the government’s food security program by managing agricultural land in several parts of the country. He described the initiative as part of Indonesia’s effort to improve food self-sufficiency and curb dependence on imported soybeans.
Existing land expected to produce 3,676 tonnes
The new allocation builds on 2,432 hectares of soybean land already managed with navy involvement across six regions. That area is expected to produce 3,676 tonnes of soybeans, equivalent to approximately 0.35% of Indonesia’s national soybean production target for 2026, Agus said.
The figures show that the military-run program currently represents a limited share of the national target. Its expansion nevertheless adds cultivated land to a sector identified by the government as strategically important for food security. Republika reported that all branches of the navy would work to optimize management of the allocated areas, with an emphasis on producing soybeans of sufficient quality to support the government program.
Program targets lower import dependence
Indonesia’s reliance on imported soybeans is the central issue addressed by the land initiative. Agus said stronger domestic production would improve food independence and reinforce national soybean reserves. The government has also linked the program to its broader objective of achieving food self-sufficiency.
The source did not provide a production forecast for the newly opened 3,110 hectares, a planting timetable or details on seed varieties, processing arrangements and financing. It also did not specify the seven regions receiving the new land. For producers, processors and soybean traders, those details will determine how quickly the program can add usable supply to the domestic market. The immediate commitment is therefore measured in acreage, while its eventual effect on output and imports will depend on field performance and implementation by the regional naval commands.
