Prabowo optimistic Indonesia will become world food barn

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto is optimistic that Indonesia can become the world’s food basket as national food production increases, opening up opportunities to export to various countries.

In his speech at the inauguration of the Meninting Dam in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on Friday, President Prabowo said Indonesia has shown significant progress in the food sector, moving from dependence on imports to exporting various food commodities.

“I am certain we will become the world’s food basket. From importing, importing, importing, we have now begun exporting. Exporting food to other countries,” President Prabowo said in a broadcast from the Presidential Secretariat monitored in Jakarta on Friday.

The President said the increase in domestic production capacity has begun to attract the attention of a number of countries that need supplies of strategic commodities from Indonesia.

“We are now being asked for help by various countries, even Australia has asked for our help, requesting that we sell urea to them. Brazil, the Philippines, India,” President Prabowo said.

The President assessed that this development shows Indonesia is increasingly counted on in the global food sector as a result of strengthening food security and improving agricultural productivity.

President Prabowo affirmed that the government will continue various programmes to achieve food self-sufficiency while strengthening Indonesia’s position as one of the world’s food suppliers.

Previously, data from the National Food Agency (Bapanas) indicated an increase in national rice production throughout the first half of 2026 to strengthen the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) and maintain national food stability.

Bapanas recorded farmers’ unhusked rice absorption, equivalent to milled rice, at 3.3 million tonnes in the first half of 2026.

In the first quarter of 2026, rice production reached 9.63 million tonnes, while consumption needs stood at 7.76 million tonnes, resulting in a surplus of around 1.86 million tonnes.

From January to June 2026, rice production is estimated to reach 19.27 million tonnes, while consumption needs are around 15.48 million tonnes, giving a production surplus of 3.79 million tonnes.

Bapanas also recorded that national rice stocks, including the Government Rice Reserve (CBP), have reached around five million tonnes.