Agriculture Minister Confirms Sustainable Self-Sufficiency and Rice Export Readiness

Wed, 25 Feb 2026, 10:56 WIB | Source: ANTARA_ID | Agriculture

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, has affirmed Indonesia’s commitment to sustainable food self-sufficiency in rice production and declared the country’s readiness to export the commodity, given the increasing production levels.

“The strengthening of national rice stocks in recent months has become a crucial foundation for the sustainability of food self-sufficiency and export readiness,” the Minister said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He made the statement while leading a National Coordination Meeting on Agriculture, attended by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sudaryono, senior officials, and heads of provincial and district/city agricultural offices across Indonesia.

The government ensures that the maintained surplus will continue to be strengthened so that Indonesia is not only self-sufficient but also able to supply rice to several countries.

He mentioned that the current national government rice reserve (CBP) is around 3.5 million tons and is projected to continue to increase along with the main harvest and a production trend that has increased by about 15 per cent until March.

“If this trend continues for just three more months, our stock will almost certainly exceed 6 million tons. This has never happened since our independence,” he said.

According to him, if the production trend remains consistent until the end of the year, the potential surplus is estimated to reach around 9 million tons.

“This is the peak achievement of all of you. But don’t be complacent. We must maintain and improve this self-sufficiency,” he said.

With the projected strong stock, the government has begun exploring rice exports to several friendly countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Papua New Guinea.

“If there are no obstacles in the next three months, we are ready to export. In fact, we will encourage exports directly from the eastern region to Papua New Guinea,” he said.

He revealed that President Prabowo Subianto had directly stated in an international forum that Indonesia had successfully reduced imports and strengthened food self-sufficiency.

The Minister affirmed that the sustainability of self-sufficiency does not only depend on short-term production but on strengthening the structural foundation through the rice field development program and land optimisation.

Last year, he said, the realisation of rice field development reached around 200,000 hectares, and this year, it is targeted to increase to 250,000 hectares. The land optimisation program has also been running for hundreds of thousands of hectares in the last two to three years as a strengthening of national production capacity.

“This is what makes our self-sufficiency sustainable. At least it will last for 5 to 7 years, even 10 years if it continues,” said Amran.

Currently, there are nine commodities that have achieved self-sufficiency, including rice, consumption sugar, large chilies, bird’s eye chilies, corn, cooking oil, chicken meat, chicken eggs, and red onions. However, two commodities remain a serious concern for the President, namely soybeans and garlic.

“Soybeans and garlic are our next focus. Soybeans are a bit challenging, but garlic is relatively more feasible. We will address them one by one,” he said.

In addition, self-sufficiency in consumption sugar is also targeted to be achieved this year, while industrial sugar is expected to follow in the next three to four years.

In his remarks, the Minister also expressed his appreciation to all levels of regional agriculture, whom he called “food heroes,” for their achievements in self-sufficiency and the surge in national production.

He also asked all central and regional levels to maintain the momentum of increased production, accelerate the realisation of programs, and ensure effective monitoring to maintain the surplus and export targets.

“Now our task is to maintain and improve (self-sufficiency),” said the Minister.

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