Rice Reserves Reach 4 Million Tons, Indonesia Achieves Food Self-Sufficiency Status
Jakarta – The government through the National Food Agency (Bapanas) announced that as of May 2025, national rice reserves have reached 4 million tons, marking an important milestone in Indonesia’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency status. This increase in reserves not only strengthens national food security, but also reduces dependence on rice imports in the long term.
The Minister of Agriculture (Mentan), Andi Amran Sulaiman explained that President Prabowo Subianto’s direction was clear, namely to realize farmer welfare through pro-production policies and fair price protection. With sufficient rice stocks to meet the needs of all Indonesian people without relying on imports, national food security is now on a more stable and independent path.
“We should be grateful because the national rice reserves are currently very strong. This is the result of the hard work of all farmers, Bulog, and support from various parties, including the simultaneous planting program, irrigation improvements, and technical assistance in the field,” said Minister of Agriculture Amran.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Political Economy Association (AEPI) Agricultural Observer, Khudori, said that the success in maintaining the availability of rice stocks was also supported by strengthening distribution and digitalization of warehouse data. The achievement of food self-sufficiency must be a momentum to build an inclusive long-term strategy. However, this success needs to be accompanied by the government’s accelerated steps in responding to the challenges of farmer regeneration, technological modernization, and adaptation to climate change, which have now begun to be responded to through cross-ministerial strategic programs.
“This achievement is a momentum to build a long-term strategy based on innovation and inclusivity, where the issues of farmer regeneration and climate change have begun to be addressed progressively by the government,” he said.
On the other hand, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan), Sudaryono explained that by continuously strengthening the upstream and downstream sectors, Indonesia is not only able to meet domestic needs, but also has the opportunity to become a leading food exporter in the Southeast Asia region.
“By continuously strengthening the upstream and downstream sectors, Indonesia is not only able to meet domestic needs, but also has the opportunity to become a leading food exporter in the Southeast Asia region,” he said.
Since 2023, the government has intensified various priority programs, such as the provision of subsidized fertilizers, rehabilitation of tertiary irrigation networks, and expansion of planting land in potential areas. These programs strengthen national production capacity and encourage efficiency in the agricultural sector as a whole.
In the future, the government targets Indonesia to not only be self-sufficient in rice, but also to be able to become a food exporter based on local excellence. With this achievement, Indonesia proves that food security is the foundation of national sovereignty.
[edRW]
