Indonesian Military Expands Role in Waste Management and Food Security Efforts

Malang: President Prabowo Subianto called on the Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police (Polri), ministries, and regional leaders to take direct action in addressing the country’s waste problem.

This effort is in alignment with Indonesia’s 2025-2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) to resolve waste management issues nationwide by 2029.
 
The President made the remark during the Simultaneous National Harvest for Food Security Program at Abdulrachman Saleh Air Force Base in Malang, East Java, on Friday, July 17, 2026.
 

MOTAH: Locally Developed Incinerator Technology

During his visit, President Prabowo inspected the Mesin Olah Runtah (MOTAH) system.
 
The system, operated within the Air Force (TNI AU) base, utilizes locally developed incinerator technology that functions independently, without the need for fuel or electricity. It holds the capacity to destroy up to one ton of waste per hour.
 
Among its advantages is the ability to process both wet and dry waste at combustion temperatures as high as 1,000 degrees Celsius.
 
The residual ash from the process is then used to produce concrete bricks and paving blocks, while organic residue is processed into planting media.
 
The technology has also been certified as environmentally friendly, having undergone emission testing in accordance with standards set by the Ministry of Environment.
 
To date, the MOTAH system has been deployed across 64 regencies and cities, with integrated waste processing facilities now capable of handling up to 100 tons of waste. The innovation has also supported end-to-end waste management and reduced reliance on landfills (TPA).
 
Beyond the deployment of the MOTAH system, the TNI has also begun implementing the Zero Waste Program, which focuses on changing behaviors and consumption patterns.
 
The program includes measures such as waste sorting, reducing the use of single-use plastics, and preventing the disposal of unprocessed waste at collection points or landfills.

TNI Supports Strategic Commodity Cultivation

During his address, TNI Commander General Agus highlighted the TNI’s collaboration with Sinergi Gula Nusantara (SGN), private companies, and sugarcane farmer associations as a demonstration of the military’s commitment to strengthening national food self-sufficiency.
 
“The TNI will support the National Food Security Program by assisting farmers with the cultivation of sugarcane, soybeans, and rice,” he said. “The Air Force will assist with sugarcane cultivation, the Navy with soybeans, and the Army with rice production.”
 
In 2026, the TNI AU will support sugarcane cultivation across 236,048 hectares of land, with a potential yield of 18.386 million tons of sugarcane – equivalent to 1.36 million tons of sugar – contributing to 45.05 percent of the national sugar production target for the year.
 
The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), meanwhile, will support soybean cultivation across 2,432 hectares of land, with an expected yield of 3,676 tons, contributing to 0.35 percent of the national soybean production target for 2026.
 
The TNI AL plans to expand cultivation efforts to an additional 3,110 hectares of farmland across seven regions, encompassing both Navy-owned land and regionally managed sites. The expansion is projected to yield 5,287 tons of soybeans.
 
The Indonesian Army (TNI AD), on the other hand, supported rice cultivation across 6.26 million hectares of land from January to June 2026, producing around 19.2 million tons of rice, and contributing to 55.24 percent of the national rice production target.
 
“Moving forward, we will continue to support efforts to strengthen national food self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on imports,” Agus said.
 
(Jonathan Sianto)