Agriculture Minister Amran: South Sulawesi's Rice Stock Surges to 761,000 Tonnes
Makassar (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the rice stock in South Sulawesi has experienced a significant surge to 761,000 tonnes, a drastic increase compared to the previous capacity of around 300,000 tonnes.
“This has never happened before. What we see today in South Sulawesi alone was 300,000 tonnes previously, now 761,000 tonnes, more than double (the increase),” said the Minister during a visit to the Bulog Panaikang Warehouse, accompanied by the Deputy Director of Perum Bulog, Marga Taufiq, in Makassar on Sunday.
He emphasised that this stock increase is the result of enhanced national rice production driven by various government programmes in a short time, thereby strengthening food security in major production centres.
According to Amran, the rice warehouses in South Sulawesi are now full, indicating the success of production increases that exceed the previously more limited storage capacity.
He explained that this stock surge is not only occurring in South Sulawesi but nationally as well, now reaching around 4.5 million tonnes, the highest in Indonesia’s history for the January-March 2026 period.
Amran noted that the significant increase in rice stock in South Sulawesi serves as a strong indicator that the government’s priority programmes to boost food production are running effectively and yielding tangible results in a relatively short time.
With the abundant stock, South Sulawesi is deemed capable of serving as a buffer for rice distribution to other regions in Indonesia with relatively low production levels.
He added that rice distribution from South Sulawesi can be directed to areas such as Kalimantan and Maluku to ensure national food supply equity remains maintained.
Additionally, the stock increase is accompanied by efforts to expand storage capacity through warehouse rentals to accommodate the continuously rising production in various regions, including South Sulawesi.
Amran assessed that this situation differs from previous times when warehouse capacities were not optimally filled, whereas now there is an excess stock requiring additional storage facilities.
He assured that the government will continue to maintain a balance between production, distribution, and storage to ensure rice availability remains stable and can sustainably meet societal needs.
According to him, the high rice stock achievement in South Sulawesi serves as evidence that strengthening the agricultural sector can enhance food security while supporting economic stability for communities at both local and national levels.