HKTI States Field Conditions Show Abundant Rice Stocks, Evidence of Strengthening Path to Self-Sufficiency
Jakarta – The Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers’ Harmony Association (HKTI), Bachtiar Utomo, has emphasised that various criticisms doubting the achievement of rice self-sufficiency do not align with the actual conditions on the ground.
This statement was made in response to the ongoing polemic, including criticism from Feri Amsari, which is deemed not to reflect the factual reality of the national agricultural sector.
According to Bachtiar, the direct visits by President Prabowo Subianto, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, to several Perum Bulog warehouses serve as concrete evidence of the national food situation.
“The government does not operate based on assumptions. The facts on the ground show that the government’s rice reserves are in a very strong condition. Warehouses are optimally filled, and distribution is well monitored,” Bachtiar told reporters in Jakarta on Sunday, 19 April 2026.
He stressed that direct monitoring results indicate that national rice stocks are at a high level, even described as one of the largest in history. This situation reflects the country’s readiness to maintain supply stability and prices.
Furthermore, Bachtiar highlighted the significant increase in national production. Over the past year, rice production has experienced a substantial surge, driven by the expansion of planting areas, improvements in irrigation infrastructure, and policies that are more favourable to farmers.
“This is not just numbers on paper. Production has genuinely increased, harvests have grown, and farmers are directly feeling the impact,” he asserted.
He further stated that the combination of abundant stocks and continuously rising production serves as a strong indicator that Indonesia is on the right path towards rice self-sufficiency.
“If stocks are full and production is rising, then the direction towards self-sufficiency is no longer mere discourse, but a process that is underway and increasingly approaching the target,” said Bachtiar.
Regarding the criticism from Feri Amsari, Bachtiar assessed that the statement is not only incorrect but also potentially causes unrest among farmers.
“Statements not based on field data only provoke anxiety. Many farmers feel that what they have achieved today is being ignored. This is what then sparks protests,” he said.
He emphasised that farmers are the parties who best understand the real production conditions. Therefore, their voices and experiences should be the primary reference in assessing the achievements of the national food sector.