Inspecting Bulog Warehouse, Agriculture Minister Claims Highest Rice Stock in History

Makassar, CNBC Indonesia - Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman directly inspected the Bulog Panaikang warehouse in Makassar, South Sulawesi, and confirmed that the rice stock is in abundant condition.

Arriving at the site around 11.16 WITA, Amran immediately toured the storage area. Inside the warehouse, piles of rice sacks were towering and neatly stacked almost reaching the ceiling. He stopped several times to directly observe the quality and quantity of the rice, while having brief discussions with on-site staff.

The inspection did not stop inside the warehouse. Amran also went down to the loading and unloading area. He even climbed onto a truck to personally check the contents of a newly arrived load. From atop the vehicle, he opened the cover and saw for himself that the load was indeed filled with unmilled rice.

Afterwards, Amran proceeded to the rice milling unit (RMU) to observe the process of turning unmilled rice into rice. At this location, he conducted further checks and even took a sample of rice to show to the media.

Amran affirmed that the current rice stock is at the highest level in Indonesia’s history. He stated that the national rice stock stored by Bulog reaches approximately 4.5 million tonnes and is projected to surpass 5 million tonnes in the next 10 to 20 days.

“Previously, the warehouse in South Sulawesi was fully filled with a maximum of 300,000 tonnes. Today, it is 761,000 tonnes across all of South Sulawesi. But for the entire Indonesia, now it is approximately 4.5 million tonnes. This is the highest since the Republic was established,” said Amran when met at the location on Sunday (5/4/2026).

He assessed that this achievement is the result of the government’s priority programme that has managed to boost production in a short time.

“So no need to doubt it, this is the President’s directive, the President’s top priority programme, which has proven to increase rice and food production in a short time, just one year. Our warehouses are full, with a capacity of only 3 million tonnes,” he stated.

Due to the limited warehouse capacity, the government is now renting additional storage space.

“So now we have rented 2 million tonnes of warehouse space. Well, we will rent more in the future. Possibly in the next 10 to 20 days, it will reach 5 million tonnes,” he continued.

He even projected that the stock will continue to increase in the near future.

“And it is not impossible that in two months it will reach 6 million tonnes. Has this ever happened? Previously, the stock at this time of year was a maximum of 1.5 million tonnes. Now it is three times that. This is 300 percent. 200 percent increase, right? 200 percent increase. We are grateful,” said Amran.

According to him, this condition is a strong signal that national food security is secure.

“Has the Republic of Indonesia ever had a rice stock of 5 million tonnes? So no need to worry, food is safe,” he emphasised.

Amran also responded to parties who still doubt the stock condition by opening opportunities for warehouse rental cooperation.

“The warehouse today is rented. We rent the warehouses, for those who comment a lot, who don’t believe, prepare your warehouses, we will rent them,” he said.

He also conveyed appreciation to all parties involved in enhancing national food production.

“Indonesian farmers, the food heroes of this Republic, to the TNI, Police, Prosecutor’s Office, all who help farming communities so that our rice is abundant. Once again, I express my thanks,” he stated.

Furthermore, Amran highlighted the use of large tronton trucks in rice distribution as an indicator of the abundant stock.

“This is the result of all this. We are already using tronton (for shipping). This shows extraordinary abundance, because usually we use regular trucks, but this indicates that rice is so plentiful that tronton trucks are used,” he said.

According to him, this achievement is the result of collaboration among various parties under the President’s guidance.

“We are already using tronton, meaning our rice is abundant. We are grateful, this is the fruit of the great idea of the President,” he added.

Amid the heating global geopolitical situation, he assured that Indonesia’s food condition remains stable.

“He created a great idea, we collaborate, work together, so that today we enjoy the results, at a time when geopolitics is heating up, Alhamdulillah we are calm, food prices are good, even we are grateful and abundant,” he concluded.