Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman Says He Has Prepared a Food Security Strategy Since Prabowo's Inauguration
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said his ministry has prepared a food security strategy to face threats from geopolitical tensions and climate change since President Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated.
He made the remarks while explaining Indonesia’s food situation amid the ongoing war involving Iran against Israel and the United States, which has continued to escalate and closed the Strait of Hormuz.
Amran said the ministry had prepared scenarios to address the worst agricultural conditions in Indonesia because it had taken into account the Russia-Ukraine war as well as Iran-Israel.
“We have calculated all that, so we have prepared it from now, sorry, not now, when he was inaugurated. That’s why we can stay calm,” Amran said at a press conference at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) office in Jakarta, Friday (6 March 2026).
Kementan has calculated that Government Rice Reserves (CBP) in Bulog warehouses amount to 3.7 million tonnes, standing crop (still in the field) 10-11 million tonnes, and Hotels, Restaurants and Catering (Horeka) more than 12 million tonnes.
“Our food strength under the warming geopolitical conditions, our food stocks up to today are available to 324 days. Our food reserves,” Amran said.
He emphasised that a 324-day stockpile does not mean the government stops producing food.
Beyond that, agricultural production continues and keeps adding to Bulog’s warehouse stocks.
The ministry even forecasts rice production reaching around 5 million tonnes in May.
“So God willing, food is safe,” Amran said.
Kementan has also prepared pumps with reach for 2.2 million hectares of land to counter prolonged drought caused by El Nino.
Adaptive rice seeds are prepared such as drought-tolerant or freshwater-tolerant varieties.
“We personally faced it in 2015, 2016, then 2023, and it was far more devastating than now. So there is no need to worry,” he said.
Not only that, the government will continue the fertilizer subsidy policy of 20 percent even though global urea supply is disrupted.