ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the worlds of rice, a commodity that lies at the heart of Indonesia's agriculture and food systems. In Indonesia, public officials, politicians and governors all brandish rice as a political weapon, often symbolically harvesting rice to demonstrate their full commitment to the well-being of society. It thus has a long history, being central to Indonesian politics and society since before the era of the longest-ruling president, Soeharto, until the current president, Joko Widodo. The history of Indonesia's rice agricultural development has been coloured with controversies and political turmoil surrounding what does and does not need to be done with rice production. The chapter shows that how the current understanding of rice production has been focused too much on achieving a structured, singular and coordinated policy, which in the end results in political deadlock and inefficiency. The chapter looks beyond the current understanding of political economy so as to see things differently.
