Bapanas Chief Declares Indonesia a World Rice Barn Without Imports

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) and Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman has asserted that Indonesia is moving towards becoming a world rice barn through sustainable food self-sufficiency without imports, supported by increased production and strengthened national reserves. “By the end of 2025, Indonesia will achieve perfect rice and food self-sufficiency, meaning no imports and the highest stock levels since the Republic was founded,” Amran said in a confirmed statement in Jakarta on Tuesday. He stressed that sustainable rice self-sufficiency without imports supports President Prabowo Subianto’s vision of making Indonesia a world rice barn. “This has never happened in the history of the Republic. So from the time we were born until 2025, this is the highest,” he stated. The government’s rice reserve stock, which is a record in Indonesian history, currently stands at more than 5.17 million tonnes managed by state logistics agency Perum Bulog and is distributed across the entire country. “This is our food achievement, God willing, it will be sustainable. So this is the moment for Indonesia to become a world food barn, especially for rice,” Amran explained. Based on the Food Balance Projection processed by Bapanas, total rice production from January to June this year is projected to reach 19.2 million tonnes. This figure exceeds the estimated national rice consumption requirement for the same period, which is around 15.48 million tonnes. Meanwhile, the government’s flagship distribution programme continues to be implemented. The food aid programme for the February-March period, which was extended until June, has reached a realisation of 97.97 percent, covering 32.57 million beneficiary families. In terms of quantity, 651.4 thousand tonnes of rice have been distributed. The government has also decided to resume the rice food aid programme starting in July for a three-month allocation. The total rice to be distributed will reach 997.3 thousand tonnes, bringing the total CBP disbursed to the public by the end of 2026 to 1.6 million tonnes. For the 2026 period, the realisation of rice sales under the Supply and Price Stabilisation Programme (SPHP) from March to 29 June has reached 393.4 thousand tonnes. The SPHP programme is a government strategy to intervene in market rice prices by providing medium-quality rice at a price lower than the highest retail price. Amran also called for collaboration with various parties to enable Indonesia to become a super power in the future. “We have many shortcomings, but we collaborate. We work together, because other countries do not want the Republic of Indonesia to become a super power. So we collaborate, God willing, Indonesia can become a super power,” Amran said.