Lebak, Banten – The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia and the Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association (HKTI), conducted the inaugural harvest of soybean seed production in Lebak Regency, Banten Province. The initiative marks a strategic step toward strengthening the availability of high-quality domestic soybean seeds as a key foundation for accelerating Indonesia’s soybean self-sufficiency program on Saturday (May 30, 2026).

Soybeans are one of Indonesia’s strategic food commodities, playing a vital role in meeting the nation’s protein needs through various food products such as tempeh, tofu, soy sauce, and other processed food industries. However, Indonesia’s soybean demand continues to rely heavily on imports.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Statistics Indonesia (BPS), national soybean demand reaches approximately 3 million tons annually, while domestic production remains below 500,000 tons per year. As a result, more than 80 percent of the country’s soybean requirements are still fulfilled through imports.

The production of superior-quality seeds is a critical factor in increasing national soybean productivity. Certified high-quality seeds can improve yields by 20–30 percent compared to non-certified seeds. Therefore, strengthening the national seed industry is a fundamental step toward sustainably increasing soybean production.

Deputy Chairwoman for Agriculture Affairs at Kadin Indonesia and Chairwoman of the Indonesian NEXTANI Association, Devi Erna Rachmawati, stated that the success of this inaugural harvest demonstrates the importance of collaboration among the government, business sector, farmer organizations, and agribusiness stakeholders in building national food independence.

“Soybean self-sufficiency cannot be achieved without the availability of high-quality and sustainable superior seeds. This inaugural seed production harvest represents an important milestone in developing a modern agricultural ecosystem that can enhance farmers’ productivity while reducing Indonesia’s dependence on soybean imports. Kadin Indonesia remains committed to supporting investment, downstream development, and the strengthening of the national seed supply chain to achieve Indonesia’s food sovereignty,” said Devi Erna Rachmawati.

The seed production program is also expected to expand farmers’ access to certified superior seeds, improve land productivity, and strengthen rural economies through the development of national soybean production centers.

Lebak Regency was selected as the development site due to its vast agricultural land potential and the strong commitment of local farmers to developing strategic food commodities. Going forward, this collaborative model is expected to be replicated in other agricultural production centers across Indonesia. Under this partnership, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia will purchase the harvested soybean seeds and redistribute them to farmers to support future cultivation.

Through the synergy of Kadin Indonesia, the Ministry of Agriculture, HKTI, and all relevant stakeholders, Indonesia remains optimistic about accelerating national soybean production, strengthening food security, and achieving the nation’s long-term goal of soybean self-sufficiency as part of a broader vision for a food-secure, self-reliant, and sovereign Indonesia.