Prabowo-Sudaryono Surprise Inspection at Bulog Warehouse Dispels Doubts on Self-Sufficiency

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto’s step, together with Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, to conduct a surprise inspection at a Bulog warehouse is seen as evidence of the government’s seriousness in achieving rice self-sufficiency. General Chairman of Tani Merdeka Indonesia Don Muzakir stated in Jakarta on Sunday that the surprise inspection (sidak) also answers various doubts that have arisen in the public space, including criticisms claiming that the self-sufficiency target is difficult to achieve. From direct field monitoring, the national rice stock is in a safe and controlled condition. “The President’s direct descent to the field shows that the government does not work based on assumptions, but real data. This is important to dispel public doubts about self-sufficiency,” said Don Muzakir. During the sidak, Prabowo and Sudaryono ensured that the quality and quantity of the government’s rice reserves remain maintained. The President and the Deputy Minister also directly dialogued with Bulog officials to ensure distribution runs smoothly and there is no accumulation or shortage in certain areas. Sudaryono’s presence, who is known to be close to farmers, also strengthens synergy between upstream production and downstream stock management. This becomes a key factor in maintaining national food stability. With the warehouse condition being filled and the monitored distribution system, the government is already on the right track. “If you see the field conditions like this directly, it’s hard to say that self-sufficiency is just rhetoric. On the contrary, this is concrete evidence,” he said. He stated that the government has now affirmed its commitment to continue strengthening domestic production through various strategic programmes, from increasing planting areas, improving irrigation to direct support for farmers. “With these steps, optimism for achieving rice self-sufficiency is growing stronger, while also emphasising that food security is the top priority under President Prabowo’s leadership,” he said. Sudaryono explained that the sidak was conducted to ensure the government’s rice reserves remain in a safe condition and ready to be distributed to maintain national food supply and price stability. During the inspection, the entourage directly viewed the warehouse condition which has a capacity of 7,000 tonnes and is currently fully filled. This reflects the stock readiness to meet community needs, especially in the Central Java region. “So, this visit is sudden, without notice, just stopping by to find out what the actual or real records are like,” he said. Even, Sudaryono revealed, Bulog leaders were deliberately not informed so that the President and he could know the true field conditions. “It turns out it’s indeed proud, so our government’s rice reserve stock is indeed high, Bulog warehouses everywhere are full. Yesterday I also sidak at other Bulog warehouses, including the Minister of Agriculture sidak in Makassar, in Bone, and others, all full. That’s the note,” he said. He also revealed that from the production side, national performance shows a very positive trend. National rice production in 2025 is recorded to increase by 4.07 million tonnes or 13.29 per cent, supported by an increase in harvested area and various agricultural sector strengthening policies.