Research on World Agricultural Economy

Pesantren-Based Food Estate: Integrating Agrarian Reform, Islamic Principles, and Food Security in Indonesia

Ujang Maman

Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Kota Tangerang Selatan 15412, Indonesia

Achmad Tjachja Nugraha

Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Kota Tangerang Selatan 15412, Indonesia

Zulmaneri Manir

Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Kota Tangerang Selatan 15412, Indonesia

Iwan Aminuddin

Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Kota Tangerang Selatan 15412, Indonesia

Lilis Imamah Icdayati

Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Kota Tangerang Selatan 15412, Indonesia

Holil Nawawi

Faculty of Islamic Religion, Ibnu Khaldun University, Bogor 16162, Indonesia

Gunawan Prayitno

Regional and Urban Planning Department, Brawijaya University, Malang 65145, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/rwae.v7i2.2781

Received: 26 September 2025 | Revised: 18 November 2025 | Accepted: 18 November 2025 | Published Online: 18 May 2026

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Abstract

Indonesia’s food estate policy was launched to mitigate the decline of agricultural land, address population growth, and enhance food self-sufficiency amid limited farmland capacity. However, the conventional model—dominated by corporate control—has often marginalized smallholders and reduced rural employment opportunities. This study proposes an alternative food estate model that broadens farmers’ access to land and promotes inclusive rural development through the involvement of pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) as institutional managers. Employing a mixed-methods approach that integrates literature review, in-depth interviews, and farmer surveys, the research investigates the feasibility of pesantren-based governance on redistributed state land. The model envisions state land allocation to pesantren, which then implement al-musaqoh (yield-sharing) partnerships with local farmers. Farmer perceptions were assessed using a Likert scale and analyzed through Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA). The findings reveal that pesantren possess strong potential to act as mediating institutions that combine moral legitimacy, social capital, and managerial capacity in food estate governance. Nonetheless, improvements remain necessary in pre-cultivation, cultivation, and support systems to ensure operational efficiency. By embedding Islamic principles of justice, cooperation, and stewardship within agrarian reform, this model bridges state agricultural policy with community-based religious institutions. The study contributes to the discourse on sustainable food governance by offering a faith-based institutional innovation that harmonizes productivity, equity, and cultural legitimacy.

Keywords: Food Estate; Food Security; Pesantren; Agrarian Reform; Islamic Economics; Sustainable Rural Devel‑ opment

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