Analysis of Food Security in Regional Context: West Java Provincial Government as a Case Study

Food security in Indonesia is still experiencing problems, especially in the West Java region, starting from the problem of food availability and the ability of the community to meet food needs. The goal of food security is access for every household or individual to obtain food for the purposes of a healthy life with requirements for receiving food in accordance with prevailing values or culture by taking into account socio-economic conditions, access and availability of food. This study describes the condition of food security in the West Java Region as an implementation of food security policies issued by the Regional Government of West Java. This study uses a qualitative method. The data collected is sourced from primary and secondary data. The primary data comes from interviews with informants, including the heads of farmer groups, millers, rice and grain marketers and related agencies at the provincial level of West Java. Secondary data is sourced from the West Java Province Agriculture and Food Crops Office, the West Java Provincial Food Security Agency, and the West Java Regional Division of Bulog (Divre). The results of the study show that the food security policy of the West Java regional government in realizing food security has not made any significant changes to the yields of food crops obtained in West Java, even though the Regional Regulation of West Java Province No. 4 of 2012 concerning Regional Food Independence and other policies has been enacted in terms of food policy.


Introduction
World food needs are increasing along with the increase in world population (Rosenthal, 2009).The increasing population is not the only problem hindering national food security (Khalil Ahmad and Amjad Ali, 2016).The reduction in agricultural land converted into settlements, and industrial land has become a distinct threat and challenge for the Indonesian people to become an independent nation in the food sector.Food is a very basic need for every human being to be able to carry out daily activities in order to sustain life (Ma, 2015).Food is also a basic right for every citizen (Ma, 2015).As a basic need, food has a very important meaning and role in the life of a nation.The availability of food that does not meet people's needs can create economic instability (Abdul Manap & Ismail, 2019).Various social and political upheavals can also occur if food availability is disrupted (Fauzin, 2021;Ma, 2015).Critical food conditions can even endanger national economic stability (Purwaningsih, 2008).Adequate food supply is a complex issue related to the interests of many people with diverse backgrounds and socio-culture (Abdul Manap & Ismail, 2019).Given this, the government's role is needed to bridge these various interests, starting from production to consumption.The food sector is the main leading sector that must be developed by the Indonesian government (Khairiyakh et al., 2016).It is based on a number of considerations.First, Indonesia has natural potential that can be developed as agricultural land.Second, most of the population lives in rural areas whose livelihoods are in the agricultural sector.Third, the need for high technology and scientific induction designed to develop agriculture without causing damage.Fourth, the availability of labor in the agricultural sector is quite abundant.Fifth, the threat of food shortages which can be fulfilled independently from domestic products, so that they do not have to depend on foreign agricultural products whose prices will one day become expensive.The food problem is not only the central government's main concern but also the Regional Government of West Java, which is known as one of the provinces with agrarian potential (Purwaningsih, 2008).Based on data from the Regional Food Security Agency (BKPD) for West Java Province, several districts/cities in this province are still vulnerable, even very food insecure.As opposed to food insecurity, food security is a condition that is defined as the availability of food in sufficient quantities, distributed at affordable prices, and safe for consumption for every citizen to support their daily activities at all times.From this definition, it can be concluded that food security is an integrative concept between food availability, distribution and consumption.Meanwhile, food insecurity will arise when the food conditions experienced by a region, community, or household at a certain time are not sufficient to meet physiological needs for growth and public health.Food insecurity can repeatedly occur at any time (chronic) and can also occur due to emergencies, such as natural disasters or social disasters.(Wan, 2017) West Java is the province with the largest population in Indonesia, which is more than 18 percent of Indonesia's total population.West Java's population growth rate is around 1.54% (2021) and tends to decrease every year.However, in terms of quantity, the population continues to increase from year to year.One of the important things related to the population is food availability.The problem of food availability covers the production, distribution and consumption of food logistics.The government, both at the central and regional levels, is making various efforts to fulfill food security programs and the availability of food logistics (Purwaningsih, 2008).Food security is the access of every household or individual to obtain food for a healthy life with the requirements of receiving food in accordance with prevailing values or culture by taking into account socio-economic conditions, access and availability of food.Thus, food security must be controlled by stabilizing price fluctuations so people can buy food (Jamaludin, 2022).Dimensions in food security include availability, utilization, access to socioeconomic culture, and access to infrastructure.If the concept of food security is examined, food security does not only concern aspects, quantity but also food quality, safety and nutrition (Lestari, 2019).There are 8 (eight) fundamental matters related, both directly and indirectly, to food security that must be considered, namely: 1.The household is the most important unit of attention in meeting national and community, and individual food needs; 2. The state's obligation to guarantee the right to food for every citizen who is gathered in the smallest unit of society to obtain food for survival; 3. Availability of food includes aspects of adequate quantity of food and guaranteed quality (food quality); 4. Food production which greatly determines the amount of food as an activity or process of producing, processing, processing, making, preserving, repackaging and or changing the form of food; 5. Food quality is determined on the basis of food safety criteria, nutritional content and trade standards for food and beverage ingredients; 6.Food safety (food safety) is the condition and efforts needed to prevent food from possible biological, chemical and other contaminants that can disturb, harm and harm human condition; 7.Even the distribution of food is an important dimension of food justice for the people whose size is largely determined by the degree of the state's ability to guarantee citizens' food rights through the food production distribution system it has developed.The principle of even distribution of food ensures that the national food system must be able to guarantee the right to food for every household without exception; 8. Affordability of food shows the equal degree of freedom of access and control that every household has in fulfilling their right to food.This principle is one of the dimensions of food justice that is important to pay attention to (Moyo & Thow, 2020).This study focuses on research on food security policies in West Java.In general, this research aims to describe the condition of food security in West Java as the implementation of food security policies that the Regional Government of West Java has issued.In particular, the results of this study explore food policies that the regional government of West Java has issued with data from the West Java Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) regarding the food needs and fulfillment of the people of West Java

Research Methods
This research method uses qualitative methods.The data collected is sourced from primary and secondary data.The primary data comes from interviews with informants, including the heads of farmer groups, millers, rice and grain marketers and related agencies at the provincial level of West Java.Secondary data is sourced from the West Java Province Agriculture and Food Crops Office, the West Java Provincial Food Security Agency, and the West Java Regional Division of Bulog (Divre).

Results and Discussion
The population of West Java in 2021 from the projected population is 48,220,094 people.The largest population is in Bogor Regency, namely 5.73 million people (12.07 percent), Bandung Regency with 3.69 million people (7.75 percent) and Bekasi Regency with 3.58 million people (7.42 percent).West Java's population growth rate in 2021 is 1.57percent.It shows an increase in the population of 0.68 million people compared to 2020.The district/city with the highest population growth rate is Bekasi Regency (3.86 percent), Depok City (3.45 percent) and Bekasi City (2.64 percent), while the lowest is in Cianjur Regency (0.27 percent) (BPS, West Java 2021) West Java's population growth rate for the 2017-2021 period shows a yearly slowdown.However, in terms of quantity, the population of West Java is still increasing every year.Changes in the structure and size of the population will greatly affect consumption patterns and the population's food needs.One thing that needs to be anticipated in realizing food security is the balance between population growth and growth in food production.If population growth is faster than production, there will be food scarcity.To avoid food scarcity and achieve food security and the availability of logistics, of course, cannot be separated from the government's obligation to regulate through policies that support food security so that every food need is met, especially for the people of West Java, either through policies in the form of Regional Regulations (PERDA) or other binding regulations regarding food policy.Food policy guarantees food security, including food supply, diversification, security, institutions and organization.Therefore, this policy is needed to increase food self-sufficiency.Development that ignores self-sufficiency in the population's basic needs will become dependent on other countries.It means that the country will become a country that is not sovereign in terms of food (Suryana, 2014).Fulfillment of food needs is important and strategic in order to maintain state sovereignty and not depend on food imports from other countries.A country's dependence on food imports, especially when it comes from developed countries, will result in decision-making on all aspects of life being no longer free and independent and, therefore, not sovereign.Conceptually, food security based on Law No. 18 of 2012 is a condition of fulfilling food for the state down to individuals, which is reflected in the availability of sufficient food, both in quantity and quality, safe, diverse, nutritious, equitable and affordable and does not conflict with religion, belief, and culture of the community, to be able to live a healthy, active and productive life in a sustainable manner.
The Regional Government of West Java has attempted to make food policies to regulate and fulfill the food availability of the people of the West Java region, including by making food policy regulations as follows: a.Based on the food policy that has been made by the Regional Government of West Java Province, according to researchers, the Regional Government of West Java has realized that food policy must be prioritized in order to be able to support all the needs of the community in terms of food availability in West Java which basically emphasizes increasing food production and expanding land agriculture.
National Food Security is, of course, inseparable from domestic/local food security.Regarding this, regional autonomy is expected to maximize the role of local governments in improving the agribusiness sector in realizing national food security.It is possible for the West Java government in particular or Indonesia, in general, to achieve food sovereignty first because most of Indonesia's population makes their living in the agricultural sector.The climate in Indonesia only knows two seasons, namely rainy and dry.It allows paddy fields to be planted all year round.Sixty percent of the food reserves on the Equator are in Indonesia.It indicates that Indonesia is indeed a strategic place in the food sector.It can be planted throughout the season as long as there is soil, sun and rain.We have very fertile land.These conditions are a great opportunity for the Indonesian state to achieve food sovereignty.Law No. 18 of 2012 mandates that the essence of food development is to fulfill basic human needs and that the government and society are responsible for realizing food security.This law also explains the concept of food security, its components and the parties that participate in realizing food security.This law has been spelled out in several regulations on the Strategic Plan (RENSTRA) of the Regional Food Security Agency for West Java Province for 2013-2018, referring to Government Regulations (PP), among others: a. PP No. 68 of 2002 concerning food security which regulates and includes aspects of food availability, food reserves, food diversification, prevention and overcoming of food problems; b.PP No. 69 of 1999 concerning food labels and advertisements which regulate guidance and supervision in the field of food labels and advertisements in the context of creating honest and responsible food trade; and c.PP No. 28 of 2004 regulates food safety, quality and nutrition, import and export to the territory of Indonesia, supervision and development, as well as community participation regarding food quality and nutrition matters.
Development in West Java in the second phase of the Regional RPJP or Regional RPJM 2013-2018 demands more attention, not only to deal with unresolved problems but also to anticipate changes that will arise in the future.The development policy in the field of food security in West Java based on the 2013-2018 Medium Term Development Plan (RPJM) Strategic Plan (RENSTRA) of the Regional Food Security Agency for West Java Province is to increase food availability, access and security.This policy is carried out through the Food Security Improvement program with the following targets: a. increased production and productivity of staple food rice, corn and soybeans; b. decreased rate of crop loss; c. reduction of community food insecurity; d. orderly distribution and trading of rice; e. increasing the diversity of consumption, food quality and decreasing dependence on the staple food rice; f. improving food safety controls.Even the Regional Government of West Java has issued various Food policies other for achieving self-sufficiency and food availability, including the following: a. Regional Regulation of West Java Province No. 27 of 2010 concerning the Protection of Sustainable Food Agricultural Land; b.Regional Regulation of West Java Province No. 4 of 2012 concerning Regional Food Self-Reliance; c. Regulation of the Governor of West Java No. 67 of 2013 concerning Guidelines for the Implementation of Regional Regulations of West Java Province No. 4 of 2012 concerning.
The field data, which is part of the influence of the implementation of the West Java regional government's food policy policies, are as follows (researchers took sample data regarding rice/rice plants as the most basic of food ingredients); The area of paddy fields in West Java is the third largest in Indonesia after East Java and Central Java, which is around 12 percent of the national paddy field area.The harvested area of West Java rice plants planted with rice in 2021 is 1,604,109 hectares.The widest is Indramayu Regency (227,051 hectares), followed by Karawang Regency (197,916 hectares) and then Subang Regency (163,947 hectares).In the 2016-2020 period, the standard area of land planted with rice in irrigated rice fields decreased yearly.In contrast, the standard area of non-irrigated paddy fields planted with rice has increased except in 2021.In total, the area of non-irrigated paddy fields has not significantly changed from year to year.In economics, inflation increases prices in general and is continuously related to market mechanisms.Inflation is measured by calculating the percentage change in the rate of change in the price index.Calculation of inflation also goes through a process that is quite long and complicated.In addition to collecting market price data for various commodities, calculating inflation also involves calculating the weight chart from the Cost of Living Survey (SBH).The results of the SBH are in the form of the average expenditure of respondents for each commodity into a weighing chart that measures the size of a commodity that affects inflation.For example, rice is a commodity with a large number on the weight chart because it is consumed by almost the entire population, so even a slight change in the price of rice will greatly affect the inflation rate.The Regional Government of West Java Province always strives to achieve self-sufficiency and food security through food policies.The Provincial Government of West Java, in early 2023, will carry out the Food Security Revolution Plan initiated directly by the Governor of West Java.Based on the data that has been described regarding the food policy of the Regional Government of West Java and field data, which is nothing but part of the results of implementing the food policy, the researcher is of the opinion that: a. Overall there was no significant change in the yields of food crops obtained in West Java, even though the Regional Regulation of West Java Province No. 4 of 2012 concerning Regional Food Independence was enacted.b.Based on field data, even though the Regional Regulation of West Java Province No. 27 of 2010 concerning the Protection of Sustainable Food Agricultural Land has been enacted, every year, there is still a decline/narrowing of agricultural land, especially in the food sector; c.Based on field data, after the enactment of West Java Province Regional Regulation No. 4 of 2012 concerning Regional Food Self-Reliance and West Java Governor Regulation No. 67 of 2013 concerning Instructions for Implementation of West Java Provincial Regulation No. 4 of 2012 concerning Regional Food Independence, there has been an increase in food production and expanding the harvest area even though it has experienced a decline in 2021; d.After the adoption of the Decree of the Governor of West Java No. 501/Kep.566-Rek/2016concerning the Working Group of the West Java Provincial Food Security Council for 2016-2020, in the 2016-2020 period, there has been a significant increase in Food Productivity.e.Based on field data, the food inflation rate generally continues to creep up even though it will decline in 2021.No West Java Regional Government policy supports/focuses on the problem of food inflation even though food inflation can occur every month, especially before holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and others.

Conclusion
The regional government of West Java Province has attempted to deal with food problems so that food availability in West Java is fulfilled by issuing food policies, one of which is by enacting West Java Provincial Regulation No. 4 of 2012 concerning Food Independence.As a whole, there is no significant change in the results of food products obtained in West Java, even though the Regional Regulation of West Java Province No. 4 of 2012 concerning Regional Food Independence and other policies regarding food policy has been enacted.Governor of West Java No. 501/Kep.566Rek/2016Concerning the 2016-2020 West Java Provincial Food Security Council Working Group so that the realization is optimized as best as possible with additional innovations so that West Java food security can be achieved.The West Java Provincial government should pay more attention to the inflation of food ingredients that occurs every year in West Java, especially ahead of religious holidays, one of which is with policies that focus on and support these problems.
Regional Regulation of West Java Province No. 27 of 2010 concerning Protection of Sustainable Food Agricultural Land (West Java Provincial Gazette of 2010 No. 27 Series E, Supplement to West Java Provincial Gazette No. 90.b.Regional Regulation of West Java Province No. 2 of 2009 concerning the Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJM) of the Province of West Java Year 20082013 (Regional Gazette of West Java Province of 2009 No. 2 Series E, Supplement to Regional Gazette of West Java Province No. 60) as amended by Regulation West Java Province Region No. 25 of 2010 concerning Amendments to West Java Province Regional Regulation No. 2 of 2009 concerning West Java Province Regional Medium Term Development Plans 2008-2013 (West Java Provincial Gazette of 2010 No. 25 Series E, Supplement Regional Gazette of West Java Province No. 88); c.Regional Regulation of West Java Province No. 3 of 2012 concerning the Formation of Regional Regulations (West Java Provincial Gazette of 2012 No. 3 Series E, Supplement to West Java Provincial Gazette No. 117); d.Regional Regulation of West Java Province No. 4 of 2012 concerning Regional Food Self-Reliance (West Java Provincial Gazette of 2012 No. 4 Series E, Supplement to West Java Provincial Gazette No. 118); e. Regulation of the Governor of West Java No. 67 of 2013 concerning Guidelines for the Implementation of Regional Regulations of West Java Province No. 4 of 2012 concerning Regional Food Independence (West Java Provincial Gazette of 2013 No. 67 Series E); f.Governor of West Java Decree No. 501/Kep.566-Rek/2016Concerning the Working Group of the West Java Provincial Food Security Council for 2016-2020.