One Year of the Prabowo Administration: Rice Production Increases 12 Percent, Accelerating Food Self-Sufficiency
Jakarta – The administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has recorded significant progress in the national food sector.
According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), national rice production in 2025 will reach 33.19 million tons, an increase of 12.62 percent compared to the previous year. With this achievement, Indonesia is estimated to have a rice surplus of 4–5 million tons and has de facto achieved food self-sufficiency in the rice sector.
Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan described this achievement as the result of the government’s measurable work in strengthening national food security.
“By the end of the year, according to BPS, we will have a surplus of around 4 to 5 million tons. So, it can be said that this year Indonesia is self-sufficient in food, especially rice,” he said.
This increase in production is evidence of the effectiveness of agricultural policies implemented across ministries.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman explained that the increase in production was due to improvements in the fertilizer distribution system and irrigation, the provision of agricultural tools and machinery (alsintan), and regulatory simplification.
“We are improving the distribution of fertilizer, equipment, and seeds evenly so that farmers can truly increase their yields,” he said.
He is optimistic that full self-sufficiency will be achieved by December 2025 or January 2026, as targeted by President Prabowo.
Furthermore, the government is also expanding agricultural land through a new rice field project in Merauke, South Papua. PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara has prepared 481,000 hectares of land in the Wanam National Strategic Project area, Ilwayab District, to strengthen national food and energy security.
IPB Professor Edi Santosa assessed that the surge in rice production demonstrates the government’s effective strategy.
“Production has increased because improvements have been made from upstream to downstream,” he said.
He added that the water pump operation, seed distribution, and the even distribution of agricultural machinery in rice-growing centers have had a significant impact on productivity.
Increased production also has a direct impact on farmer welfare. The Farmer Exchange Rate (NTP) for September 2025 rose to 124.36 from 123.57 the previous month.
“When production increases and grain prices are good, farmer welfare also improves,” explained Prof. Edi.
The government is also finalizing the Farmer Welfare Index (IKP) as a more comprehensive indicator.
The Ministry of Agriculture recorded that exports from the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector grew 38.25 percent to US$4.57 billion. The increase in exports not only consisted of raw materials but also downstream products such as coffee, fruit, and premium rice, which are now penetrating the international market.
This achievement underscores the government’s success in achieving food self-sufficiency while strengthening the national economy. ***
[edRW]
