The Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, is pushing North Kalimantan (Kaltara) to become a national food barn and an export gateway to neighboring Malaysia. Local government leaders, including the Governor of North Kalimantan, welcomed the initiative, hoping these measures will accelerate Kaltara's should become self-sufficient production centers for strategic agricultural commodities. Kaltara’s geographic location, directly bordering Malaysia, gives it a strategic advantage that the government intends to leverage to enhance food security while also boosting the economic value for farmers through exports.
The Minister mentioned that crops such as corn, cocoa, coconut, and coffee have strong potential in Kaltara to meet both domestic demand and export markets in neighboring countries. To support this vision, the government is backing the agricultural sector with substantial resources: an additional IDR 9.95 trillion for land expansion across Indonesia (targeting 880,000 hectares), banking credit facilities totalling IDR 89 trillion, and agricultural KUR (People’s Business Credit) exceeding IDR 100 trillion. Looking ahead, the government’s regular agriculture budget for the following year is projected to hit IDR 40 trillion—the largest ever—signaling strong commitment to support farmers and agricultural development. Local government leaders, including the Governor of North Kalimantan, welcomed the initiative, hoping these measures will accelerate Kaltara’s transformation into a regional food hub and export center, improving farmers’ prosperity and realizing the region’s agricultural potential.
