KTNA Supports Rice Export Plan to Singapore to Maintain Harvest Value

The Indonesian Farmers and Fishermen Association (KTNA) supports the government’s plan to export rice to Singapore as a strategic measure to maintain national stock balance while increasing the economic value of farmers’ produce. KTNA Chairman Mohammad Yadi Sofyan Noor assessed that national rice stocks, which have reached more than 5 million tonnes, provide a strong basis for opening export opportunities without compromising the commitment to meet domestic food needs. “We support the government’s export plan. If stocks decrease, it is actually better for farmers. Why? Because the value will rise,” Yadi said when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday. The statement was made in response to the government’s plan, through Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, to offer rice exports to the Singaporean government. According to him, the plan is a positive step as it can help alleviate the pressure of accumulating national rice stocks that continue to grow from farmers’ harvests. KTNA explained that rice stored for too long in warehouses risks quality deterioration, so it must be managed through distribution and marketing, including opening new export opportunities. Moreover, Yadi continued, within the next three months, several regions will enter the planting season again, meaning rice production is expected to increase and potentially add to the national stock volume. If old stocks are not immediately distributed, the oversupply condition could become a management challenge because storage capacity is limited and requires good circulation. KTNA noted that the quality of rice in storage can begin to decline after several months, so accelerating distribution is an important step to maintain both quality and the commodity’s economic value. The farmers’ organisation fully entrusts export policy to the government while hoping that the opening of overseas markets will continue to be expanded so that the absorption of national harvests increases sustainably. According to KTNA, reducing rice stocks through exports will provide space for the next harvest while maintaining the stability of grain prices to remain profitable for Indonesian farmers. KTNA also revealed that the price of dry harvested grain at the farm level is currently generally above the government purchase price, providing a positive signal for farmers’ welfare. The government purchase price for grain is set at Rp6,500 per kg. Beyond strengthening national stock management, the rice export plan is expected to open wider food trade opportunities while supporting increased farmer incomes and the competitiveness of Indonesian agriculture. “Nowadays, it is rare for farmers’ grain prices to be below the government purchase price. In the field, we sell grain for Rp7,000 per kg, Rp7,200 per kg, Rp7,300 per kg. All are above the government purchase price. The average is above Rp6,500 per kg, there is no more below Rp6,500 per kg,” he said. Previously, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman offered to export 10,000 tonnes of rice to Singapore, as government rice reserves managed by Perum Bulog have reached 5.1 million tonnes. The minister discussed the opportunity to export 10,000 tonnes of Indonesian rice to Singapore as a step to strengthen food cooperation between the two countries. The plan was discussed during a bilateral meeting with Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu at the Ministry of Agriculture’s headquarters in Jakarta on Monday.