Village Food Security through Local Enterprises: Governance and Policy Alignment in the Feasibility of BUMDes Agribusiness

Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) play a strategic role in realizing food security and self-sufficiency based on the villages. However, the implementation of this program requires the readiness in terms of institutional capacity, governance, and the integrated policies. This study aims to assess the feasibility of BUMDes in implementing the food security programs through a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document studies from 32 assisted villages in Suruh and Pabelan Districts, Semarang Regency. The results show that the success of the program is highly determined by three main pillars, namely synchronization of village policies with food programs, transparent and participatory governance of BUMDes, and the readiness of local human resources to manage the food business units. This study suggests the need for an integrative model among village governments, academics, and BUMDes actors to formulate the data-driven and local-based policies.