HKTI: Prabowo's Anti-Rice Import Stance Has Existed Since 2004

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The General Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers’ Harmony Association (HKTI), Sudaryono, stated that President Prabowo Subianto’s anti-rice import stance emerged as early as 2004. At that time, Prabowo served as the General Chairman of HKTI and was not yet in government. “The aspiration not to import rice, the anti-rice import stance, has indeed been demonstrated by the HKTI Chairman since he became the HKTI Chairman in 2004; he has been against it and said that rice imports should no longer be allowed,” Sudaryono said at the Ministry of Agriculture, Jakarta, on Monday (27/4/2026). Prabowo also announced the achievement of rice self-sufficiency in early January 2026. In addition to rice, imports of corn for feed have also been stopped. The government is reducing reliance on foreign supplies. “What was previously imported, we are reducing the imports step by step,” Sudaryono remarked. This policy is accompanied by encouragement for domestic production. The government is targeting an increase in the output of food commodities. The sugar sector is one of the focuses. The government has received input from the Indonesian Independent Sugarcane Farmers Association to curb imports. Consumption sugar imports have been closed. National production is being promoted to meet domestic needs. “Thus, we can boost our national sugar production to truly meet our domestic needs and improve the welfare of our farmers,” he said. The government has also issued several legal products to protect the agricultural sector. “Our President together with the people, President Prabowo together with the farmers, and whatever is good for the farmers, whatever is good for food, whatever is good for ensuring food security and availability, the president will surely pursue it all,” he added.