Agriculture Minister Amran Assures National Rice Production Is Safe Amid El Nino, Medium-Grade SPHP Supply Increased
Agriculture Minister (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman has assured that national rice production and availability remain secure amid El Nino conditions and a longer-than-usual dry season. The government is also strengthening rice supplies to the market by adding 1 million tonnes of medium-grade rice under the Food Supply and Price Stabilisation (SPHP) programme.
The assurance was delivered by Minister Amran after attending a coordination meeting with Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan and several relevant ministries and agencies at the Office of the Food Coordinating Ministry in Jakarta on Monday (7/9/2026).
“The conclusion of it all is that we are safe, safe. Our production and food needs are secure,” said Minister Amran.
Minister Amran said the government has prepared a number of measures to ensure rice supplies remain available whilst also keeping prices stable for consumers. One of these is accelerating the distribution of SPHP rice and encouraging medium and premium rice to enter retail networks.
“Firstly, we are adding to the SPHP allocation and pushing medium and premium rice into retail channels. Secondly, we are stopping imports of broken rice or menir. Thirdly, to suppress prices, we will carry out large-scale market operations. SPHP will be increased by one million tonnes, and food aid distribution will be accelerated,” he asserted.
According to Minister Amran, the policy is a pre-emptive measure by the government to face the dry season period, which could put pressure on production and market supply. Rather than waiting for supply pressures to materialise, the government is acting early by strengthening rice distribution to the public.
During the meeting, the government decided to add 1 million tonnes of medium-grade SPHP rice to strengthen rice availability in the market. The rice will be channelled through various distribution networks so that the public can obtain rice at affordable prices.
Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the increase was a government decision to strengthen supply and safeguard rice prices in the market.
“In response to that, we have just held a meeting and decided: we are increasing the supply of subsidised rice, known as SPHP. Medium-grade SPHP. We are adding another 1 million tonnes,” said Zulkifli.
Accordingly, the government is adding 1 million tonnes of medium-grade SPHP rice to be distributed between October and December 2026, continuing until the next harvest season. The SPHP rice is intended to maintain supply whilst curbing price increases in the market.